Proceeding of 9th Annual Conference

Topic - Sustainable Technology for Rural Development in Ethiopia
Presenter - Ato Wondimu Deginetu
Chair Person - Ato yeheyes Assefa
Venue - Imperial Hotel, Conference hall
Date and Time - 10:30Am – 11:00Am, December 18,2004
Rapporters - Ato Feleke Dejene and Ato Getachew kebede

Opening:

- The chair Person, Ato Yeheyes Assefa, opened the technical session by explaining briefly about the theme of the Conference, i.e., ‘’Technology for Rural Development.’’ He then introduced the paper presenter, Ato Wondimu Deginetu, to the audience and invited him to present the paper.

Presentation:

Ato Wondimu Deginetu started his paper by explaining how Ethiopia is in a very demanding position these days for an improvement in technologies related to agricultural and rural development. He also listed out some facts about rural p[arts of Ethiopia such as:-

• High growth rate of population,
• Insufficient grain production,
• Health problems like HIV/AIDS, and
• Lack of potable water etc.

He mentioned that in order to alleviate these problems, we must choose and promote appropriate and sustainable technologies, which can bring quick rural development. These technologies should:

- Keep up with nature
- Be suitable for use
- Be affordable
- Be easily operated & maintained
- Endure and lay foundation to give chance for new technology

He went on discussing y listing out the intervention areas of sustainable technologies that could bring quick rural development. These are:

• Enough grain production to feed the nation.
• Rural electrification and reforestation through generation and use of renewable energy development programs such as Wind, Solar, and Micro hydropower.
• Technologies suitable for supply of potable water such as water harvesting, hand pumps, etc.
• Supply of affordable clothing by improving national dress making machines with modern technology and develop export market.
• Better and economical shelter construction by making improvement on selection materials and design such as:
o Introducing prefabricated building materials like mud bricks
o Preparing architectural design for wooden/bamboo houses
• Better up keeping & exploitation of live stock, Bee etc, such as breeding, milk production, butchery, bee hives, honey extractors, wax making, waste recycling, Improving, etc.
• Post harvest & agro processing technologies to reduce the wastage of harvest
• Promoting indigenous and modern health care such as providing mosquito net, water filters, solar water treatment plant, refrigerator, traditional games etc.
• Nature & climate preservation technology such as Rain water and Soil conservation, better charcoal production, briquette production, better store design, etc.
• Rural mental nourishment and know-how transfer schemes such Technical & vocational training centers, Farmers training schemes, mobile schools, mass media, exhibitions, etc.

He further stated that Networking & performance evaluation is very essential in order to implement the above discussed intervention areas of sustained technologies for rural development.

This can be accomplished by forming National Organ by Consensus (from private sector, NGO, Government, etc) and acting through secretariat office, and then all stakeholders can accept the program development and implementation.

Conclusion

Finally, Ato Wondimu Deginetu, concluded his presentation by stressing the fact that although there are proved & Unused appropriate technologies in Ethiopia, there are problems of management in selecting, implementing and promoting these technologies. Therefore, the way forward must be to follow:

Discussion

The chairperson had highlighted important points of the paper and then gave a chance for
Conference participants to forward questions, comments etc to the presenter and audience as well.

Accordingly, comments were forwarded, discussed and common understanding was reached by the participants as follows:-

1) Government institutions, private entrepreneurs, NGO assisted projects had tried to develop many improved version of farm tools, such ‘’ARARSO’’, during the last 40 years. However, none of them were promoted properly, manufactured and able to reach the farmer.
• The problems associated with earlier researches were:-
o They were not market oriented
o Purchasing power of farmers is limited
o Networking was almost non-existent
o Inconsistent Government policies
• The present policy allows intervening in this sector. Hence, we need to join hands to market the improved farm tool, which would help in increasing an agricultural output.

2) Technologies that are suitable for rural development (Hardware) are available but it is believed that the real problem is implementation i.e, lack of ‘’Software’’ (Finance, training, etc).
3) Lack of Networking is believed to be a major set back in selection & implementation of improved technologies for rural development.

Hence, ESME shall forward the idea to the Government and other stakeholders and find a way to solve the problem i.e., create the ‘’NETWORKING’’.

4) Promoting improved technology for rural development will not be successful (even if there is sufficient financing) unless the end user is aware and accepts it. So, the end user must be part of the technology selection and implementation process.
5) If at all there should be subsidies for improved technology, it should not be direct to the end user rather it should be given to the manufacturer. This would help to reduce the cost of the improved farm tools, equipment etc.

Closing

The chairperson finally closed the session by pointing out the fact that “ to go out of the poverty cycle (by improving technologies for rural development) getting organized is a must and we need to focus towards networking”.