UN Declares July 6 World Rural Development Day to Champion Countryside Progress

The UN General Assembly has officially declared July 6 World Rural Development Day, recognizing the vital role rural transformation plays in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The landmark resolution emphasizes that eliminating poverty and hunger in rural areas is fundamental to sustainable development. It calls for a comprehensive, multidimensional approach that integrates economic, social, and environmental priorities, The Caspian Post reports via local media.

The UN highlights that rural development is central to tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges-including poverty, inequality, food insecurity, and increasing climate vulnerability.

Globally, 80 per cent of the world’s poorest people live in rural areas, many earning less than $2.15 per day. The 2024 UNDP Multidimensional Poverty Index reveals that over 1 billion people are trapped in extreme poverty-more than half of them children.

Healthcare gaps remain stark, with 50 per cent of rural populations lacking health insurance, compared to just 22 per cent in urban centers, according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).

Despite these hardships, family-run farms produce 80 per cent of the world’s food supply, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Women account for 43 per cent of the agricultural workforce, continue facing limited access to land ownership, credit, and agricultural technology.

Rural regions also bear the brunt of climate change, disproportionately affected by droughts, floods, and extreme weather conditions. The resolution urges governments to invest in rural infrastructure and close development gaps, particularly in remote and underserved communities.

UN bodies and international development banks are encouraged to organize forums and policy platforms focused on inclusive land management and financial innovation.

The resolution also calls on civil society and farming groups to engage local populations through outreach programs, public awareness campaigns, and community dialogues.

Academic institutions are seen as pivotal in driving innovation through lectures, youth engagement, and the creation of rural innovation hubs aimed at finding practical, scalable solutions.

The private sector is also invited to contribute by developing inclusive business models and launching investment funds to support rural entrepreneurs, helping unlock sustainable growth and prosperity in the world’s most disadvantaged regions.