Appropriate Technology to Reduce Poverty

Appropriate Technology, technology designed to be suitable to the needs and resources of a particular group of people. Appropriate technology relies on local skills and resources that fit into the local situation economically and culturally, and that do not harm the environment. A wider approach takes into account the processes of the development of technologies—the skills and knowledge that go into them. An explanation of appropriate technology and of the related idea intermediate technology requires a brief survey of the historical context in which these terms arose.

The last 250 years of human history have been marked by extraordinary advances in the achievements of technology and science. By the end of the 19th century there was a mood of great optimism that technology and science would shortly provide the solutions to almost all human problems, particularly those associated with poverty.

This mood of optimism possibly reached its zenith in the 1960s, owing partly to the achievements of space travel and partly to the development of nuclear energy, which seemed to promise a future in which the world's energy needs would be met by inexpensive electricity.

However, these optimistic expectations had already begun to be undermined in the 1930s. One growing concern was the impact on the natural environment of technological activities—pollution, waste, and overconsumption of natural, and especially nonrenewable, resources. These made possible and were themselves driven by the rich nations' way of life, based on high consumption and ever-increasing economic growth.

A second area of concern arose in the context of attempts to alleviate poverty in developing countries. It was initially thought that the best way to do this was to facilitate in these countries the kind of technology that had led to such prosperity in the richer countries. However, as time passed, a number of economists, in particular the German-born British economist E. F. Schumacher, argued that advanced technology of wealthy nations was rarely appropriate to the situation of people in developing countries, and that an alternative technology was needed.
A classic example of inappropriate technology is that of tractors provided for agriculture in Africa. The necessary infrastructure and specialized skills to keep the tractors maintained were largely lacking, so that after a short period the tractors became heaps of rusting material. A second example is a project that introduced an automated factory to produce plastic sandals. The traditional sandal makers were put out of work, the raw material had to be imported, and, though economic growth according to conventional measurements occurred, poverty increased.

This led Schumacher to formulate the concept of intermediate technology, something, as he said, “between the sickle and the combine harvester.” He proposed ways “to find out what people are doing, and help them to do it better,” rather than wrecking local cultures and communities by the intrusion of technologies that ignore local materials and render local skills obsolete.
Schumacher also argued forcefully that the model of development that the wealthier nations practice is environmentally unsustainable. He said that “the earth cannot afford the ‘Modern World.’ It requires too much and accomplishes too little.” The capital-intensive technology of developed nations was itself inappropriate, not only to developing countries, but to the planet as a whole. Schumacher was convinced that wealthier nations must adapt their way of life to be more local and more sustainable, thus prompting them to look at appropriate technologies.

Examples of successful appropriate technologies are small-scale hydroelectric facilities in Nepal, Wales, and Peru. Energy-efficient cooking stoves in Kenya and Sri Lanka provide employment for the producers, and save time and money for the users; food-processing courses in Bangladesh include not only the technical aspects of food processing, but the packaging and marketing of products.
Today there is a fierce contest between the proponents of high technology and those who increasingly support the appropriate technology approach. Advocates of appropriate technology argue that the high-consumption way of life of the richer countries must be abandoned, and appropriate technologies must be adopted in place of those that increase unemployment and damage the environment.

Farmers’ Information and Technology Services Center (FITS – Techno Pinoy)

Farmers’ Information and Technology Services
Center (FITS – Techno Pinoy)
“Bringing technologies closer to the farmers”

I. PBSP – CRTD

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) is a corporate-led NGO established in 1970 by Filipino businessmen as an expression of their corporate social responsibility (CSR). With agricultural technology development and dissemination as key development interventions to poverty alleviation, PBSP is working on improving the access of poor agricultural communities to information and technology. Established in 1979, the Center for Rural Technology Development (CRTD) in Calauan, Laguna anchors the foundation’s Technology Management Program (TMP). CRTD is mandated to test, develop and disseminate appropriate technologies for different resource bases, enhancing these technologies to improve agricultural production and increase farm incomes.

The 4.0-ha. training and farm complex of PBSP – CRTD in Calauan, Laguna, test and disseminate lowland-irrigated and rainfed technologies. It serves as a venue in developing and validating new and intensive methods of farming before they are disseminated and adopted in PBSP – assisted communities throughout the country.

II. PBSP-CRTD FITS Center (Techno Pinoy)

Launched in May 2001, the PBSP-CRTD FITS Center serves as a component of PBSP-CRTD’s training and extension desk and program support to poverty alleviation. It is the foundation’s modality to ensure the provision of information, training and technology services (in the form of on-site technical assistance and consultancy services) to PBSP development partners and non-PBSP clients nationwide. Manned by a pool of CRTD Technical Staff and experts, the FITS Center provides information and technology services in agriculture specifically in areas of commodity-based Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) development and management. Through the CRTD website (http://asia.geocities.com/pbspcrtd) and internet, it fast tracks the retrieval and exchange of information, technologies and services.

A. FITS Services

1. Information Services

The PBSP-CRTD FITS Center provides technology information in print, audio/video tapes and CDs. Photo Exhibits, reproduction and dissemination of information, education and communication materials, and intra/internet access also form part of the FITS services. At present, three (3) FSD Technology and Training Manuals and sixty four (64) Technology Brochures have been packaged and reproduced by CRTD for its FITS Center. Fifty four (54) VHS Tapes (Entre Pinoy) were also sourced from the Office of Sen. Sergio Osmeña III in 2002, on top of other technology materials provided by DOST, PCARRD, STARRDEC, UPLB and other resource centers and PBSP – CRTD partners.

The center is equipped with computers and peripherals (with internet access via the crtd@laguna.net), photocopier, TV, VHS, VCD/DVD Players, Overhead projector and sound system. CRTD’s Training Center can accommodate over 60 farmer-trainees, complete with fixtures and other amenities --- conference room, dormitories and a cafeteria.

2. Technology Services

CRTD provides training, technical assistance and consultancy services to PBSP development partners and non-PBSP clients nationwide. Through its pool of training and technical staff (who also act as trainers) with varying skills and expertise, CRTD develops technology training curricula and manages trainings both in CRTD Calauan and on – field. The center has also conducted Technology Caravans in Liliw, Laguna, Cebu City, Samal Island and Cagayan de Oro City.

The 4.0 – ha. farm of CRTD showcases its five (5) commodity-based IFS Model Farms and other agricultural technologies developed by CRTD, its partners and by other technology resource centers. The farm serves as a laboratory and practicum area during trainings.

III. Technology Development for FITS Center

CRTD develops and models commodity-based integrated farming systems and semi-commercial agricultural technologies and enterprises for its FITS Center. CRTD also adopts and makes available in its FITS Center, matured and developed technologies of its partners, and integrates them to develop and showcase farming systems for farm lots of varied sizes to increase yield and income. Farm lots and Model Farms ranging from 0.32 ha to 0.78 ha. are currently being demonstrated in CRTD to find the right and most appropriate commodity-mixes that will provide optimum income. Aside from enhancing and increasing agricultural productivity, CRTD also incorporates managerial skills into the different farming systems development (FSD) models.

CRTD’s Commodity-Based FSD Model Farms include, (1) 0.36-ha. Livestock- Based FSD, (2) 0.56-ha. Aqua-Based FSD, (3) 0.32-ha. Vermi-Based FSD, (4) 0.78-ha. Lowland Agroforestry Production System, and (5) 1.54-ha. Tilapia Production and Hatchery Project.

These integrated farming systems (IFS) are continuously being enhanced with the cooperation of several major agricultural institutions and technology resource centers such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) and the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD), University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB), Department of Agriculture – National Dairy Administration (DA-NDA), Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI), and the Southern Tagalog Agricultural Resources Research and Development Consortium (STARRDEC).

IV. CRTD FITS Center for Technology Dissemination and Promotion

Results of CRTD’s on-field researches and technology validation are packaged and disseminated. Technology and information materials such as manuals, technology brochures and newsletters are also published and housed in the CRTD FITS Center.

CRTD disseminates agricultural technologies mainly through the FITS Center, conduct and management of technology training courses, management of farm visits and orientation for PBSP-assisted farmers and other clients. CRTD demonstrates and showcases, on its 4.0 – ha. farm, the five (5) commodity-based IFS models and other technologies it has developed through the years. CRTD technologies in its IFS Model Farms include : (1) Dairy Cattle Production, (2) Swine Production and Breeding, (3) Bio-Gas Digester, (4) Vermiculture and Vermicomposting, (5) Fruit Crops Production (Durian, Sinta Papaya, Rambutan-GR5, Tissue-Cultured Banana, Guapple and Ubod), (6) HVC (Lettuce and other Vegetables), and (7) Tilapia Production and Hatchery (CNT, FAST Breeders).

As a core function of CRTD, the center directly manages the agri-based technology programs and projects for PBSP’s operations throughout the Philippines. The center can be tapped to provide on-site technical assistance and consultancy services needed by NGOs, farmers and farming communities. It also provides and offers technical information, resources, and/or links to other technology resource centers. These services are open to other private institutions, individuals, NGOs, Peoples’ Organizations, and Government Agencies (GA).

The CRTD FITS Center is also complemented by the Farmer – Scientist Bureau (FSB) or the Magsasaka – Siyentista (MS) initiative --- with acknowledged farmer-scientist (in the person of Mr. Jaime Goyena – known as the “Rambutan King of the Philippines”). Mr. Goyena collaborates with PBSP – CRTD in demonstrating, experimenting and promoting technologies in fruit crops production --- being an integral component in CRTD’s IFS Demo Farms. For the CRTD FITS Center, Mr. Goyena has the following roles and functions : (1) acts as Resource Person (RP) during CRTD Technology Trainings, (2) provides technical assistance and hands-on training and shares insights and experiences to CRTD visitors, (3) devotes his nursery farm in Brgy. Lamot, Calauan, Laguna for cross-farm visits and (4) influences other farmers in adopting his outstanding farm practices (especially on asexual propagation techniques) by sharing information, experiences, resources and ideas.

IV. Financial Sustainability

The PBSP-CRTD FITS and Training Center generates revenues and income from the management of technology trainings, sales of FSD Manuals and Technology Brochures, VHS Tapes, fees from Internet accessing, photocopying and from institutional consulting contracts and engagements.

Accomplishments in terms of number of training courses, participants, organizations trained, materials development/technology packaging and management of visits and Financial Performance of the CRTD FITS Center over a four (4) – year period (2001 – 2004) are presented in Tables 1 and 2.

V. Problems and Actions Being Taken

For over three (3) years of operation, the CRTD FITS Center has been an integral component of CRTD’s Training and Technology Dissemination program. Though it has encountered several problems at the program and project levels – generally in areas of :

1. Electronic connectivity amongst the different FITS Center --- though an ideal set-up, the CRTD FITS Center just coordinates with the STARRDEC and other resource centers and surf via the internet on specific technologies which are not part of the local and internal FITS technologies.

2. Timely retrieval, replenishment, inventory and updating of information materials from the different resource centers and partners, on top of CRTD – developed technologies --- with the limited space, there is a need for an effective mechanism to sort, store and prioritize technologies specific to CRTD FITS Center’s technology focus, needs and requirements--- which is Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) and Farming Systems Development (FSD).

3. Financial Sustainability relies heavily on resource mobilization for technology trainings --- thus CRTD continues to develop and package training proposals with the FITS Center serving as grounds on information and technology services.

VI. Plans

Since the CRTD FITS Center serves as PBSP’s IT support program on poverty alleviation --- providing services to PBSP development partners nationwide, it serves as the ‘center’ and seat of technology information and services, specifically in areas of IFS and FSDs and related technologies. As such, the CRTD Training and FITS Center had included in its plans and priorities, the following :

1. Inclusion of the CRTD FITS Center in the PBSP Web Page (pbsp.org.ph) to expand its reach.

2. Develop an internal database of all technologies developed by CRTD and PBSP development partners (beneficiaries) nationwide.

3. Assessment on the need for FITS Centers in the PBSP Regional Operations and priority areas not yet covered by the regional consortia (i.e. Catbalogan, Western Samar, Cebu City, Negros Occidental, Bohol (San Miguel) and Tawi-Tawi), and project development, establishment and build their technical capabilities on FITS Center management, if necessary. This is in line with PBSP’s plan of “regionalizing” the CRTD FITS to be more cost-efficient and effective at the regional level of operations.

4. Continue to identify, build and strengthen institutional partnerships (linkaging and networking) with other technology resource centers for technology retrieval, updating and databanking, and availing of their technical expertise.

5. Maintain and sustain the operations of the CRTD FITS Center through income generation, program promotions and marketing, and pro-active fund sourcing and resource mobilization (i.e. development, submission and approval of proposals by other donors and funding agencies).

Rolando S. Corpuz
Philippine Business for Social Progress
Center for Rural Technology Development(PBSP – CRTD)