*Appropriate technology is an aspect of sustainable development* Appropriate technology projects follow four main rules…

*The initial cost and any maintenance and parts must be cheap enough for the people involved* For example, this piece of machinery is too expensive for use in an LEDC. More relative equipment for use in an LEDC.

*It must provide long term use for the people with very little impact on the environment* The water pumps used here are worked by hand so are friendly to the environment. Also they don’t need much maintenance so last for a long time.

*Local technology and expertise should be used whenever possible* A sickle, used for harvesting grain, is a well known tool by the locals and their expertise with the tool make it appropriate for the area. House construction using straw bales.

The solar cooker is easy to use so expertise are not really needed and locals can operate them easily. *The project should be what the people need. It also should be run by local people with very little outside help*

The Mossi people of Burkina Faso – soil and water conservation Lines of rocks and stones built across the land Slow overland flow, capture water for growing crops Encourage deposition of nutrient rich sediment [In China small dams are built across the Loess GAIA4 505]

Not large dams BUT tube wells and drip irrigation Not chemical fertilisers BUT cheaper organic [food and milk a by product] Not tractors BUT simple tools made locally Not cash crops [monocultures] BUT small holdings where subsistence and profit making mixed farming co-exist Dam, Rat proof stores or Emergency aid – which is appropriate?

Komogo on River Volta Horreos grain cribs, Galicia Spain 2000 yr old rat proof store Japan – Note rat barrier on legs + ramp

Treadle pump developed in Bangladesh in 1990s Main crop – rice needs lots of water so particularly important Cost $7 to buy Average incomes increased by approximately $100 Increased irrigation = increased crop yield Local workshops, village dealers, well drillers + installers all benefit Good practice has been transferred to Zambia

Simple hand operated machine based on Bulgarian idea $50 to make, concrete poured into two fibreglass moulds Shells 50 kgs raw sun-dried peanuts in an hour Peanuts drop down the machine shelling as it becomes more constricted – can also be used for coffee Peanut = legume, husks can make briquettes

Simple Sustainable Local Understood

Phrase coined by Schumacher in ‘Small is beautiful’ Implication that technology must improve previous methods