MZUMBE UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

PROGRAM: BACHELOR OF ACCOUNTS AND FINANCE IN PUBLIC SECTOR (BAF/PS)

SUBJECT: DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (DST)

CODE: 101

TASK: GROUP ASSINGMENT

LECTURER: MADAME GENDA

SUBMISSION DATE: 28TH OF AUGUST, 2013

GROUP MEMBERS

MWINUKA RITHA A. 1203036/T.12

MAHENGE CATHERINE 1203020/T.12

OWANO VEDASTO T. 1203041/T.12

PASCAL BONIVENTURE 1203043/T.12

LIMU ALLY S. 1203018/T.12

BROWN DERICK 1203073/T.12

NKUSSA HALIMA H. 1203063/T.12

QUESTION;

Using concrete examples to support your views, discuss at least five (5) characteristics of Appropriate Technology
for a developing country like Tanzania.
INTRODUCTION:

Technology refers to the branch of knowledge that deals with creation and use of technical
means and their interrelation with life, society and environment, drawing upon such subject as
industrial, arts, engineering, applied science and pure science.

The concept of Appropriate Technology (AT) was originated from the work of British economist
Dr. Fritz Schumacher in the 1970s. Appropriate technology is a grass roots approach to
technology that builds a strong sense of community and encompasses benefits that span across
social, environmental, cultural, economic, and spiritual facets. Appropriate technology is not a
one size fits all approach, but rather adapts to best fit the community in which it is developed.
Appropriate technology best fits with the community it serves because it is created by the people
to meet a need. Therefore, the communities are placed at the centre of decision making and
create technologies that will best serve their communities in the long term. Also appropriate
technology can be defined as the range of technology which is relevant and applicable for a
given society that is which does not negate its values and aspiration. It is the technology
justifiable by the humanistic conservator ethic means the utility and feasibility of this technology
are determined by its applicability in the society.

Appropriate Technology seeks to aid and support the human ability to understand, operate, and
sustain technological systems to the benefit of humans while having the least negative societal
and environmental impact on communities and the planet. Some of the examples of appropriate
technology are hybrid cars, solar cookers, green buildings, sustainable agriculture hydro electric
power, sun thermal power, geothermal power, tidal power and biogas just few to mention.

There different types/ forms or kinds of technology but mainly two are known that is; Embodied
or incorporated technology which means that all kinds of capital goods, tools, machines,
equipment and people with skills, and it is also known as hardware technology. And the other is
Software technology which means all kinds of knowledge, information and data required for
maintenance, production and innovation of equipments or hardware

Transfer of technology is in different forms for example through technical assistances

(expertise), licensing informs of trademarks or copyright, subsidiary, sub contract, joint venture
for example the Friendship Textile Industry and franchising.
MAIBODY:

Appropriate technology has the following characteristics;

More productive

Appropriate technology is more productive and it is using highly labor intensive, but it is
inefficient in traditional technologies. For example water harvesting which is practiced in
Tanzania during growing rice, also the use of machines like tractors for cultivating instead of
hand hoes and use of irrigation system.

Less expensive and more manageable

Appropriate technology is less costly and more manageable by the people who use it rather than
the large scale labor; it saves capital and helps to improve on more appropriate technology. Also
it means that it is affordable, adaptable and easy to repair since it uses local materials.

Respond to factor endowment and local needs

Appropriate technology have characteristics of responding to factor endowments and local need
which means that, the purpose of appropriate technology is to serve local community example
villagers therefore technology like irrigation system when established do respond to factor
endowments and local need of the people. For example rice irrigation in the Usangu plains due to
the presence of great Ruaha River.

Appropriate technologies which are cheaper and smaller give a wider and more equitable
distribution of capital investment

Appropriate technology which is a result of advanced users of science should at least been
equitable distribution of capital investment locally which is proportional to the environment. For
example Food, energy, water, and waste disposal are also handled locally by ecological systems.
These are systems that conserve resources by recycling organic nutrients back into the soil and
re-using manufactured goods in innovative ways. Thus, appropriate technology makes it possible
to satisfy our basic human needs while minimizing our impact on the environment.

Example Grinding machine, this is machine tool used for grinding it used an abrasive wheel as
the cutting tool, Irrigation in agriculture, this is artificial application of water on the land and
soil. Used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of land-scrapes and
revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during period of inadequate rainfall. It used
sprinkler nozzles, Pipes and steams to pass water from the sources to the crops

Creation of employment
Appropriate technologies have a characteristic of creating employment opportunity where people
live since it uses labor intensive capital. Appropriate technologies have to respond with its
objectives and the main purpose of appropriate technology like Family Employing technologies
and the use of simple tools like agriculture tool (tractors) is to improve production. Family
employing technologies are labor intensive or capital saving and encourage self reliance and
innovation.

Foster use of local capital, use of skills and raw material

Appropriate technology have a characteristics of fostering the use of local capital for example
labor intensive capital, use of skills like machines operation skills and raw material like
agriculture products like cotton, coffee, rivers (water) which reduce reliance on importation of
those factors.

Produce for local consumption

Appropriate technologies have characteristics of producing primarily for local consumption and
use, this is because to reduce on the importation of goods and services which can be produced
locally for example establishment of import substitution industries which produce food and
others plastic materials example Cello Company in Tanzania.

Local empowerment

Appropriate technology do possess a characteristics of local empowerment to the people who

lack power like women, rural areas, poor people just few to mention.

Environmental friendly
Appropriate technologies are friendly to the environment since are portable and simple to use
and do not pollute the environment leading environment degradation. For example; recycling of
waste system, the use of gas instead of charcoal which do pollute environment through emission
of harmful gas (carbon monoxide) also the use of solar power as a source of energy. National
Environment Management Council (NEMC).

Involve decentralized renewable energy sources

These are such as wind power, solar energy, water power, mechanic gas, animal power and pedal
power such as in that highly efficient machine, the bicycle make technology understandable to
the people who are using it and thus suggest ideas that could be used in further innovations. For
example the use of Biogas energy system in Tanzania which is practiced in local level.

Appropriate technology do not involve patents, royalties, consultant fees, import duties
shopping changes, or financial wizards
Practical plans can be obtained free or at low cost and no further payment is involved. Therefore
they are flexible so that they can continue to be used and adapted to fit changing circumstances

Smallness, simplicity and non-bureaucratic features

Appropriate technology is meant for small-scale production. The production unit is small and
simple it is easy to manage. The production process employs local materials and as a result this
minimizes the transport costs in both the input and output. As the production process is
controlled the products will find a ready market in the command area of its operation. The
technology is devoid of any complexity and because of this feature no special skill training to
operate the unit is required. But a villager with his craft training is sufficient to manage the unit.
Bureaucratic intervention is totally lacking in any stage of its operation. The individuals and
families or village and community are responsible for its management.

Non-Violence
Another important characteristic feature of appropriate technology is its non-violent nature. Non-
violence in this context is nothing but its non-destructive or harmful dealings with the living
nature, with the limited and finite resources of the earth. Interaction of high-tech with nature and
its resources was very violent. It is evident by the crisis of resource exhaustion and the ecological
crisis. But appropriate technology tends to lead the nature to the rock of permanence.

Limitations of appropriate technology:

Some of Appropriate Technology devices are successful and sustainable over time but they are
still too small in scope to play a significant role in improving conditions for the great masses
who were in need. Typically, a large-scale high technology application is introduced within a
developing country through an outside source for example Intel’s Microchip Production Plant in
Costa Rica and are not controlled at the local level nor provide a sustaining redistribution of
capital for the common people.

Appropriate Technology seeks to restrain radical high technology applications like Intel’s,
having a limiting effects on the potential growth and impact of developing nations to compete in
world markets. Therefore, there are serious concerns by many country leaders with regard to the
transferability of knowledge gained from Appropriate Technology applications to higher
technology operations.

Another potential problem with Appropriate Technology approaches is that, even if a device is
effective and meets all the design criteria it still may not be acceptable to the end users.
Sociological and anthropological issues play a significant role in the overall success of
Appropriate Technology. A technological device can only be effective if it fits within the societal
constraints of the people who are using it. Many qualities of Appropriate Technology devices
have ended in failure because they were not acceptable within the customs of the people for
which they were designed to be used.

Conclusive remarks
Appropriate technology is important due to its holistic nature. Firstly, it permits local needs to be
met more effectively through community involvement, and for this reason it tends to be aligned
with local values and traditions. Secondly, appropriate technology utilizes human labor by
developing tools rather than machines. This enables people to self-organize without complicated
management training and specialized knowledge. Thirdly, it minimizes transport of goods in an
era of expensive and environmentally harmful energy, allowing greater local industry
participation and implementation of local resources, both human and material. Fourthly,
Appropriate technology reinforces local control which provides a cushion against the effects of
outside economic changes. Finally, it establishes a self-sustaining skill base and reduces
economic, social and political dependency between individuals, regions and nations. Appropriate
technology recognizes the will of local people to act on their own behalves, and is a technology
made by and for the people. The benefits of appropriate technology can be realized in both
Northern and Southern countries, and plays an undoubtedly critical role in building sustainable
communities.
REFERENCES

 LITERATURES

Schumacher, E. F. (1973). “Small is beautiful”: Economics as if people mattered. New York: Harper Perennial a
Division of Harper Collins Publishers.

Pallegrini, U. (1979), “The Problems of Appropriate Technology”.

Thormann, P. (1979),”Proposal for a Program in Appropriate Technology”.

Akubue A (2000), “Appropriate technology for socioeconomic development in Third World countries”.

 WEBSITES

http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JOTS/Winter-Spring-2000/pdf/akubue.pdf

http://wiki.answers.com