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

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.

• 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.

Other information on summative assessment:
Assignment I: 25%
Assignment II: 25%
Module Test: 50%

Formative assessment methods:

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

Length of examination:

Requirements for a pass:

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