APME61-Appraisal of Agricultural and Rural Development Projects
Module Provider: Agr and Food Econ
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Basic knowledge of microeconomics
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2016/7
Module Convenor: Dr Chittur Srinivasan
Email: C.S.Srinivasan@reading.ac.uk
Summary module description:
This module aims to enable students to:
* Appreciate the role of project appraisal in making informed decisions on the allocation of resources for agricultural and rural development.
* Understand the distinction between financial, economic and social dimensions of project appraisal.
* Understand the need for integrating environmental assessment in project appraisal.
* Understand how macroeconomic, policy and management issues affect the outcome of agricultural and rural development projects.
Aims:
This module aims to enable students to:
*Appreciate the role of project appraisal in making informed decisions on the allocation of resources for agricultural and rural development.
*Understand the distinction between financial, economic and social dimensions of project appraisal.
*Understand the need for integrating environmental assessment in project appraisal.
*Understand how macroeconomic, policy and management issues affect the outcome of agricultural and rural development projects.
Assessable learning outcomes:
At the end of this module, students should be able to:
*Have a sound understanding of the analytical concepts and tools of project appraisal and apply them in the context of real life projects and case studies.
*Carry out discounted cash flow analysis and basic economic cost-benefit analysis.
*Understand the dimensions of social appraisal including likely impact on different income groups, social groups and gendered impacts.
*Appreciate how policy issues are relevant in the context of project appraisal.
Additional outcomes:
In addition, students should be able to:
*Understand the relevance of project appraisal in agricultural and rural development.
*Appreciate reasons agricultural development projects and programmes may fail.
*Develop the ability to assess/forecast project outcomes.
Outline content:
Lectures
- Introduction: Role of projects in agricultural and rural development
- The dimensions and nature of appraisal.
- Financial and economic appraisal.
- Discounted cash flow analysis.
- Economic cost benefit analysis
- Risk and sensitivity analysis.
- Environmental assessment.
- Social appraisal.
- Assessing the impact of policy on projects.
Exercises
- Financial appraisal exercises.
- Economic appraisal case study
- Environmental appraisal exercises.
- Social appraisal case study.
Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The module will be covered through nine lectures and four sessions devoted to exercises/case studies. Additional sessions will be arranged in the computer lab for students to complete the practical exercises/ case studies.
Summative Assessment Methods:
Method |
Percentage |
Written assignment including essay |
50 |
Class test administered by School |
50 |
Other information on summative assessment:
Assignment I: 25%
Assignment II: 25%
Module Test: 50%
Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx
Reassessment arrangements:
By re-examination in August/September
Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:
Last updated: 21 December 2016