Pro-Poor Technology
It is well proven around the developing world that if right technologies are
adopted, it is possible to make a difference to the conditions of the rural poor. It is
also equally established that inappropriate technologies introduced to a rural setting,
however well the intentions may be, end up in a lot of wasted resources and are actually
counterproductive. Many experiences in the developing countries have demonstrated that
bringing in technology to alleviate the rampant rural poverty helps, but the technology in
question must be geared to the local conditions and the needs of the people. Rural lives
have improved on account of technological interventions. To take the example of Nepal,
biogas technology has been instrumental in lessening the drudgery of people and curbing
over-dependence on forests for fuel needs. There are estimated 80,000 biogas plants in the
country. Solar technology has been another means to meet the energy demands in the rural
areas. Some 10,000 solar plants dot the country. These figures came at a national
consultative meeting on Technology for Rural Development" Wednesday which was
addressed by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
He told the gathering that new models are required to create new rural micro
enterprises based on agricultural products and local natural resources to create
productive job opportunities in the rural areas. Innovative technologies that are
affordable, sustainable, and economically viable are essential to see micro enterprises
blossom. However, without integrating scientific and technological considerations right
from the development planning, introduction of appropriate technologies is easier said
than done. Technological considerations, which are employment-oriented,
production-oriented and oriented to save time, must be added to central and local level
planning, if it is to play a crucial role in alleviating rural poverty. Some interventions
would be simpler than others. As one of the speakers at the meeting revealed, a mere Rs.
6000 spent on improving a conventional water mill, which number above 50,000 across the
hills of Nepal, could increase the mill’s capacity by three to five times. It is this
kind of affordable, sustainable technologies that Nepal desperately needs. Small
technologies that allow a rural community to start a modest agro-based micro enterprise
could have the potential to appreciably increase the general income levels of that
community. In other words, pro-poor technology is what rural Nepal needs.
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