In recent years, credit has become the predominant form of support to small producers, while other forms of business development services have diminished. Looking Beyond Credit assesses the need for targeted business development services other than finance, their growing importance among small producers and how they can work in tandem with credit schemes.The book shows that small producers generally face a range of constraintsother than finance such as access to improved technology, raw materials, skills training and information on market opportunities. Therefore, schemes that address these constraints are achieving a larger impact than those which focus on credit alone. The case studies examined here record significant achievements in terms of employment generation, increased incomes and product innovation and diversification, thus supporting the view that targeted business development services can play a bigger role and should be incorporated with credit schemes to provide total support to small producers.Looking Beyond Credit will be essential reading for anyone involved in the supply or demand of business development services.

This volume is part of a series which offers practical advice for trainees studying rural building courses. The main aim of the course is to provide much-needed trade information in simple language, with numerous, clear illustrations. It draws on the expertise of fieldworkers who have devised simple building methods appropriate to a rural community and is the product of years of experimentation with different methods.

This is a comprehensive survey of the technologies for making a wide range of products from chess-men to arm chairs, from trays to solar cookers, using paper. It is a revised and updated edition of the Manual of APT published by IRED, Harare, 1989 and 1991 which has reached 60 or more countries.;The revised edition includes: additional models and extra pages of colour photographs and special supplements on APT in the Service of disabled people which contain models of furniture and equipment dealing especially with the needs of disabled children, and in particular to help develop their ability to sit, stand, walk and their general mobility (for example rocking and moving around on wheeled equipment).

The treadle irrigation pump is able to lift up to 7000 litres of water per hour using the power of the human body, and can be locally made at low cost in small-scale metalworking shops. Its acceptance in Bangladesh, where it was first developed in 1984, is extraordinary, with over 500,000 pumps estimated now to be in use.;The current design offered in this manual has evolved from the Bangladesh original into a fully portable pump with both lift and pressure capacity and is especially appropriate to situations where soils are permeable, and water cannot easily be distributed through channels. The manual is intended to be read primarily by organizations engaged in economic development activities which have a particular expertise in technology transfer; it is not intended just as a step-by-step guide for the manufacturer (although it can be used in this way).

The wind is a renewable energy resource that can never be exhausted and which avoids pollution. This makes it one of the most environmentally sound energy options available.;Applied to water pumping, the wind has been central in the stimulation of many rural economies, such as the Great Plains in the United States, the Australian outback, and Argentina, and there is still great potential for future development of the wind-pumping resource. However, the scarcity of appropriate information on the technology, economics and potential has restricted dissemination in the developing world. "Windpumping: A Guide for Development Workers" overcomes this problem by taking the reader through every aspect of this topic in a systematic way.;The appendix includes a list of international suppliers and manufacturers of windpumping equipment, together with a summary of their products and services.

This book comprises the proceedings of a rural technologies conference organised by the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG), which was conceptualized and initiated by Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India R. Chidambaram in 2003-04. The book highlights case studies and research into providing science and technology interventions for the development of rural areas. Covering various aspects of research carried out in the area of rural technologies, it offers a valuable resource for researchers, professionals, and policymakers alike.

This volume is part of a series which offers practical advice for trainees studying rural building courses. The main aim of the course is to provide much-needed trade information in simple language, with numerous, clear illustrations. It draws on the expertise of fieldworkers who have devised simple building methods appropriate to a rural community and is the product of years of experimentation with different methods.

Seeking to promote a wider knowledge of traditional technologies in the Middle East and Central Asia, the contributors address three related themes: the history, originality, variety and sophistication of traditional science, technology and material culture in these regions; their influence on the history of Europe and the West; and the threat posed by modern Western technologies to the survival of traditional technologies which have continuing value according to turn-of-the -millennium standards of sustainability and appropriateness to local cultural, social and ecological conditions. There is a clear need for conservation of some artefacts that are under current threat of extinction.

The preservation of food and crops by drying can help to increase food security or it can provide a source of additional income for producers and women's groups. This book is an introduction to the principles of drying and an indication of the range of technologies available, along with case studies examining the use of improved drier designs.

This book examines the pros and cons of the local production of carpentry hand-tools as opposed to their importation. In seeking the best strategy to adopt it also outlines the previous methods adopted by VSO and Intermediate Technology who have much experience in this area. Published in the VSO ECOE Programme series.

Women's indigenous technical knowledge and innovative solutions to problems are in evidence across the whole range of food cycle activities. Unlike other books in this series which focus on specific food-related technical areas, this book highlights the broad scope of expertise that exists in rural areas.;Section 1 gives a brief account of women's indigenous technical knowledge and its extent. Section 2 explores women's role in the innovation process and how technical assistance has conventionally ignored this. The points made in these first two sections are illustrated and supported by the case studies in Section 3, and the lessons which can be learned from the case studies are presented in Section 4. Section 5 draws on these lessons to offer guidelines for development practitioners working with women.

This technical handbook offers a clear and detailed introduction to the field of sericulture (the cultivation of silkworms) and silk production for small, rural communities in tropical and temperate climates. Each chapter deals with a specific stage in the production process, from the cultivation of mulberry bushes to the grading of silk, including a chapter on sources of further information. With its clear illustrations and charts, it is the ideal reference book for rural communities considering starting silk production.;The handbook is the latest addition to the "Small-scale Textiles", series which aims to present basic information about all aspects of small-scale textile manufacture from raw materials to finished products, and will be of use to fieldworkers, development agencies, and those starting small-scale manufacture or attempting to improve or extend manufacture.

This manual describes how to build a machine for rolling sheet metal into curves and cylinders and gives full dimensions and assembly instructions.

The African Sahel has one of the poorest regional economies in the world. Within it pastoralists are particularly vulnerable because development policy has often failed to address local concerns. By contrast, the Turkana rainwater harvesting project described in this book stands out in its simplicity - a basic water conservation technology based on priorities identified by local people, adapted by them, and in which local pastoralists and gardeners take full responsibility for the control and administration of their work. The authors illustrate the project's progress through a series of descriptive scenes which discuss the successes and learning experiences. The whole process, covering the years 1984 to 1990, was one of continuous dialogue between western technological principles and experience, and local observation and knowledge - resulting in a successful learning process promising to empower local people to better cope with economic pressures and the harsh environment. Written and designed for development workers, farmers and agricultural fieldworkers, researchers and extensionists, as well as project planners and advisors, this companion to Rainwater Harvesting has lessons in participatory techniques for all those engaged in projects involving development agencies and local people.

This book covers the public health, technical, socioeconomic, sociocultural and institutional aspects of sanitation in towns and cities of developing countries. The text features excreta-related diseases and the use of sanitation to reduce their transmission. The sanitation technologies covered in detail are VIP latrines, pour-flush toilets, septic tanks, settled sewerage and simplified sewerage, with additional chapters on sullage disposal, pit emptying, and sewage treatment and reuse. Sociocultural constraints on sanitation systems and their socioeconomic costing are described, together with hygiene education, which is essential in order to achieve maximum benefits to health. The text also explains how to choose the most appropriate sanitation option for a given low-income community. Finally, institutional aspects are reviewed, including effective sanitation programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.

"Green Revolution" technologies have transformed the countryside of many less developed countries. This book examines the processes involved in the adoption of these new technologies and their socio-economic impacts. It provides an integrated view of the effects of "Green Revolution" technologies on economic growth and returns, distribution of income and resources, stability of agricultural production and returns and their sustainability in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi experiences are compared with those elsewhere, especially in India. Sources of increased agricultural growth in Bangladesh are identified, patterns and determinants of adoption of high yielding varieties of cereals at both the farm and regional level are identified and the consequences of the new agricultural technology for diets and for the welfare of Bangladeshi consumers are discussed. Implications for rural poverty, income and resource distribution and security of income of the "Green Revolution" in Bangladesh are given attention as is the impact of the "Green Revolution" on fluctuations in cereal yields. Long term sustainability problems are raised - high yielding varieties of crops are driving out traditional variet

A celebrated international bestseller that exposes the ticking time-bomb underneath our new technological order. The resources race is on. Powering our digital lives and green technologies are some of the Earth's most precious metals - but they are running out. And what will happen when they do? The green-tech revolution will reduce our reliance on nuclear power, coal, and oil, but by breaking free of fossil fuels, we are setting ourselves up for a new dependence - on rare metals like cobalt, gold, and palladium. These are essential to electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels, as well as our smartphones, computers, tablets, and other technologies. But we know very little about how rare metals are mined and traded, or their environmental, economic, and geopolitical costs - until now.

Design a rainwater harvesting system for any home in any climate.

Water is a crucial resource increasingly under stress. Yet rainfall, even in arid climates, can make up a sizable portion of any home, acreage, or farm’s water requirements if harvested and utilized with care. The key is appropriate planning and high-quality site- and climate-specific design.

Essential Rainwater Harvesting is a comprehensive manual for designing, building, and maintaining water harvesting systems for the warm and cold climates of the world. Presenting design considerations and approaches for the most common household rainwater supply scenarios – primary, supplemental, and off-grid supply – this step-by-step approach covers:

- Considerations for full-property water security

- Demand planning and conservation strategies

- Supply calculations and design implications for extreme rainfall and drought

- Materials selection and water quality

- System and site assessment

- Sizing and design of gutters, conveyance, tanks, and pumps

- Pre-filtration, filtration, and disinfection options

- System maintenance and upkeep

This practical resource provides DIYers, trades, and rainwater practitioners with the essential tools, methods, and technical know-how to design, build, and maintain rainwater harvesting systems anywhere.

This book comprises the proceedings of a rural technologies conference organised by the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG), which was conceptualized and initiated by Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India R. Chidambaram in 2003-04. The book highlights case studies and research into providing science and technology interventions for the development of rural areas. Covering various aspects of research carried out in the area of rural technologies, it offers a valuable resource for researchers, professionals, and policymakers alike.

Sand rivers can be found in arid and semi-arid areas of the world where water is in short supply. Despite their dry appearance, useable quantities of water often reside in aquifers beneath the surface and can provide a sustainable and safe supply for rural communities. Nevertheless, dry rivers are often overlooked as a realizable source of water. This book sets out to address this issue and promotes the abstraction of water from sand rivers as a viable and affordable option for dryland areas. It enables the reader to assess the potential for abstraction from beneath a dry river bed and provides practical guidelines for doing so. The book is a 'how to' manual and is essential reading for engineers, technicians, fieldworkers and project planners who are faced with the challange of providing and sustaining safe and reliable water sources for low-income communities. It is also aimed at providing decision-makers in the water industry, commercial, government and non-governmental organizations with an overview of an alternative, appropriate water supply solution for dryland areas.

"Medical and Hygiene Textile Production" considers the production of medical and hygiene textiles on a small scale in developing countries. Medical textiles include gauze, bandages and cotton wool, and hygiene textiles consist of sanitary towels and nappies.;Although the technologies for these products are often simple, in the past there has been very little comprehensive information available about production methods. This handbook offers basic information on all levels of manufacture and small scale production of these items, from household level production to small centralized units, from raw material processing to the packaging and labelling of the finished products.;All the processes described can be undertaken by hand or with the use of small mechanically driven equipment.

Information about appropriate technology available to developing countries is common. What is not often achieved is a flow of the actual technologies themselves between countries - and the IDEA Awards aim to stimulate this transfer of useful technology between needy people in different environments.;This book consists of profiles of over 80 technical innovations in the field of development, which represent technologies submitted to the Innovation for Development Association for their 1990 awards. Five main subject areas are covered: water, energy, forestry, farming and fishing, and the criteria for judging the nominations were sustainability, self-reliance and socio-economic acceptance.;The main purpose of this book is to disseminate knowledge of innovations which have been developed and tested in real environments with real needs, and in close contact with end-users. Most of the innovations presented have a full page each, some are illustrated, and all are accompanied by contacts of people and addresses. These 80 plus innovations will undoubtedly be as useful as the original hundred ("100 innovations for development") and having already proved their value once, should prove their

This windpump design was adapted from a series of low-lift windmills developed in Ethiopia. A very successful windpump which when scientifically tested pumped nearly twice as much water as the original design. Contains constructional details and plans.

Every ten seconds a child dies from diarrhoea. This makes 3 million children every year, or over 8000 children per day. These figures are only counting the deaths. How many children are disabled for life by parasitic infections and frequent diarrhoea in their early years? How many women live with permanent anaemia because of hookworm infections?;This book provides a practical solution to the lack of basic facilities and sanitation that so many people face in the world today, by giving advice and information on how to set up and implement a latrine building programme, and providing guidelines on how to build latrines that are easily maintained, affordable and appropriate to the needs of the communities who will be using them.;The book gives a basic introduction to appropriate latrine building, and covers the design and construction of different types of latrines, discussing some of the common problems that can occur in the building stage. It covers all aspects of the implementation of a latrine building programme, including the promoting of hygiene and the education aspects of such a programme, and how to go about planning, monitoring and evaluating such a programme. The latrine designs described here can be built using local materials, and involve peoples traditional skills and innovations.

Aesthetics, Digital Studies and Bernard Stiegler frames the intertwined relationship between artistic endeavours and scientific fields and their sociopolitical implications. Each chapter is either an explication of, or a critique of, some aspect of Bernard Stiegler's technological philosophy; as it is his technological-political-aesthetical-ethical theorisations which form the philosophical foundation of the volume. Emerging scholars bring critical new reflections to the subject area, while more established academics, researchers and practitioners outline the mutating nature of aesthetics within historical and theoretical frameworks. Not only is interdisciplinarity a prevailing topic at work within this collection, but so too is there a delineation of the mutating, hybrid role inhabited by the arts practitioner - at once engineer, scientist and artist - in the changing landscape of digital cultural production.