Rural economics is an important branch of study, particularly in developing countries where large parts of the population live and work in the rural sector. In Africa most countries have rural dwellers in excess of three - quarters of the population. Moreover, agricultural output constitutes a major part of the Gross Domestic Product. Economics of rural development focuses on the economic behaviour of agents in the rural sector before examining the economic behaviour of peasants. This leads us then to examine the main variables of rural change. Finally, the course examines issues of rural development and national planning.