Use Of Indigenous Technology Research Articles

Perceived impact of climate variability and change on livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Lesotho

Lesotho is a poor country that heavily depends on rain-fed agriculture for socioeconomic growth and development. However, climate change threatens the agriculture sector, which has implications on the ability of the country to harness its development, especially among smallholder farmers, to eliminate poverty and promote sustainable development. This study therefore assesses farmers’ perceptions of climate change impact on agriculture. The study also examines adaptation strategies adopted by smallholder farmers to mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture, household livelihoods, and food security. The study employed a survey questionnaire and sampled 200 farmers from farming villages in Lesotho. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and with the aid of Excel 2016. The result of the study shows that farmers have experienced climate variability and change, such as erratic and unpredictable rainfall patterns, severe frost/cold and intermittent drought leading to the dryness of water bodies. These experiences have affected smallholder farmers through declining crop yields, increased pest and disease attacks, and below normal yields. Farmers’ adaptation strategies employed to mitigate climate change impact included the use of indigenous technology for treating pest and disease, fruit tree planting, conservation agriculture (water and soil conservation) and rainwater harvest storage for use in dry seasons. Indeed, climate change exerts serious threat to socioeconomic development in Lesotho. Hence, programmes and interventions that improve adaptive capacity and the acquisition of best farming practices among smallholder farmers should be prioritized to tackle vulnerability. The results of the study contribute to the literature by offering interesting insights into climate change impacts on agriculture and smallholder farmers’ response strategies in Lesotho.

Gender Role in Agricultural Technology: A Case of Rural Bangladesh

This study analyzed the gender role in agricultural activities with respect to the change of technologies and determine their implications for improvement of household status in Netrokona district. The study followed the simple random sampling technique to select 300 sample respondents for household survey through the semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis such as, number and percentages, was used. Multiple regressions used in order to explore the relationship between the income and other factors. Both qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques were utilized. Women perception index (WPI) was measured using rank ordered approach. The findings showed that there has been significant change occurred with the livestock rearing activities which are 116.79% after adoption in new technology. According to this study, male are involved in decision making in the following activities as reported by the respondents: sale of produce (84%), purchase and repair (78%), weed control (70%), land preparation (76%), spraying (65%) and planting (51%), where women respondents reported that they are mostly involves in harvesting 89%, processing 81%, manuring 48% and weed control 59%. Our research also shows that 78% and 73% of men have owned small equipment and thresher, Ox-plough, and power tiller where women own only 21 percent, 2 percent, and 5 percent respectively. It is evident that the perception regarding farming with adoption of new technology attain highest score and 2nd highest ranked perception is technical training on technology, similarly the 3rd ranked occupied is adoption in HYV where last rank score on use of indigenous technology. It means that most of them prefer modern technology in terms of productivity. The experience on modern technology of respondents has a positive coefficient and it was 0.492. Given these facts, our research has explained what keeps women’s rates of modern agricultural technology adoption low.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ITS PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA

Global statistics revealed that the development of science and technology research has aided and facilitated growth and sustainable development in most industrialized societies while the story is different for less developed countries hence, this paper examined policy issues and challenges confronting the development of science and technology research in Nigeria. The study adopted the elite theory and derived its data from secondary sources which included official government documents, textbooks, published journals articles, the international news media, newspaper publications, materials from the internet etc. The study also adopted the descriptive research method hence, the data collected were analysed using the qualitative method. Findings in the study show that lack of consistency in the development of a science and technology development policy has hindered the growth and use of indigenous technology in Nigeria. Thus, there is need to develop and implement an indigenous home grown sustainable science and technology development policy in Nigeria in order to compete favourably in the international market.

Indigenous Strategies for Communual Resource Management in Oku, North West Region of Cameroon

The exploitation of common property resources has often witnessed rapid degradation due to indiscriminate exploitation for selfish reasons. The Oku Community Forest is a replica of this type of forest that has been under human influence since time immemorial. Taking into consideration the fact that institutions have failed to meet up with sustainable management strategies, the management of these forest resources depends unavoidably on the holistic approach which requires local communities and institutions to make use of indigenous technology in resource management. This study focuses on the indigenous strategies in communal resource management in the Oku Community Forest. Data for the study were collected using both primary and secondary sources with much emphasis on the administration of questionnaires. The data were analysed in both qualitative and quantitative terms. The relationship between population increase, communal resource exploitation and the impact on the environment was correlated through the use of the chi square. From field evidence, there is a relationship between population increase, the over exploitation of communal resources and communal resource degradation. The study therefore recommends the community based resource management as a panacea for sustainable community forest resources in the Oku Community Forest. This will help to limit over exploitation and thus could enhance a sustainable management of the communal forest resources.

Effect of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises MSMEs in Sustainable Rural Development in Nigeria

The study investigated whether Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises could accelerate sustainable rural development in Nigeria. Through conceptual, theoretical and empirical reviews of existing literature and statistical analyses, the results provide empirical evidence on the relationship of MSMEs and rural development. The study adopted a sample of 336 small business owners that operate in the rural areas of Ihiala, Ogbaru and old Aguata LGAs of Anambra State of Nigeria. The study tested two hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. A percentage frequency and OLS regression technique were employed for data analyses. The results showed that government involvement has no significant effect on MSMEs development in the Anambra State of Nigeria, Furthermore, the development of MSMEs has29% significant effect on rural development in Anambra State. The study, therefore, infers that the development of MSMEs is capable of opening up rural areas in a developing economy like Nigeria. Increased business start-ups, use of indigenous technologies, business and customer growths are small business enhancing features that can be improved to achieve sustainable rural development in Nigeria.

Financing Mechanisms to Support MSME and Startups: Role of the Capital Market

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector plays a significant role in the Indian economy. A catalyst for socio-economic transformation of the country, the sector is critical in meeting the national objectives of generating employment, reducing poverty, and discouraging rural-urban migration. These enterprises help to build a thriving entrepreneurial eco-system, in addition to promoting the use of indigenous technologies. The sector has exhibited consistent growth over the last few years, but it has done so in a constrained environment often resulting in inefficient resource utilization. Of the many challenges impeding the growth and development of MSMEs, inadequate access to financial resources is one of the key bottlenecks that make these enterprises vulnerable, particularly in periods of economic downturn. MSME sector is currently opening up in India to support startup initiatives, especially in the manufacturing, infrastructure and IT-enabled Services sector. The Government is fully committed now to extend whole-hearted financial and technical cooperation and support to the entrepreneurs to see through a boom in the Start-up industries; as also to fulfil the ‘Make in India’ Mission of the Government. Among other things, the major objectives of this Mission are to enhance the overall economic growth and create enormous job opportunities in India. The paper attempts to highlight the various financing mechanisms to support MSMEs and Startup initiatives in India and the Asia-Pacific Region with focus on the role of the Capital market.

Use of indigenous technology for the production of high quality cassava flour with similar food qualities as wheat flour.

The aim of the paper was to compare the food qualities of 2 varieties (SME 1 and 2) of high quality cassava flour (HQCF) produced from indigenous technology and that of some commercially sold wheat/HQCF samples. The pH, proximate, phytochemical, antioxidant, functional properties and starch yield of the flours were carried out using standard techniques. The wheat flours had higher bulk densities and lipids than the HQCF samples while the oil absorption capacity of the HQCF (SME 2) was higher than other fl our samples investigated. The antioxidant assays of the flours showed that they contained considerable levels of antioxidants with the HQCF sample from DAT having higher antioxidants than other flour samples studied. The HQCF (SME 1) had significantly higher (P < 0.05) starch content among the flour samples. The bacteria counts of the HQCF samples ranged from 0 to 1.4 × 10(4) cfu/ml while the fungal count ranged from 0 to 2 × 10(-3) with the unbranded wheat fl our having the highest microbial load compared with other flour samples studied. The use of this indigenous technology produces HQCF with lower lipids, microbial contamination but higher flavour retaining ability, flavonoids and starch contents than wheat flour. The significant positive correlation (R2 = 0.872) between reducing power of the samples and their DPPH antioxidant activity indicate that either could be used to assay for the total antioxidant activity of cassava and wheat flour. The study underscores the need to buy flour from branded companies to reduce the risks of microbial contamination.

Adoption of New Agricultural Technology: A Case Study of Buksa Tribal Farmers in Bijnor District, Western Uttar Pradesh, India

The tribal agriculture is mostly on primitive lines, as evidenced by shifting cultivation, use of indigenous technologies, small size of land holdings and lack of diversification of occupations. The adoption of new agricultural technology in the form of HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, agro-chemicals, method of cultivation, etc. can improve the production and productivity of agricultural sector leading to improvement in economic condition of the tribal people. Ignorance of the tribal farmers, lack of irrigation facility, poor credit supports, etc. are some of the factors that restrict its spread. The present study was taken up to delineate the existing problems among the tribal farmers which create hindrance in adoption of new agricultural technology in district Bijnor of Western Uttar Pradesh. For this purpose 72 tribal farmers were selected and interviewed with the help of a questionnaire for collection of data.

Climate Change Vulnerability and the Use of Indigenous Technologies for Adaptation among Smallholder Farming Communities in sub Saharan Africa

It has been established that climate variability and change has tremendous impacts on agricultural production and productivity especially in developing societies. Unfortunately, the extent of this change and the adaptation capacity in African agriculture has not been well determined to guide adaptation, policy and development efforts. This study aimed to obtain empirical evidence on whether and how smallholder farming communities are experiencing climate change variability and impacts and the indigenous technologies they have adopted to cushion the effects. The study was conducted in three sub Saharan African countries namely: Nigeria, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone. Primary data were collected through participant observations, questionnaire instruments, and focus group discussions while secondary data were obtained through in-depth literature reviews. Analysis of data was done using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Major findings revealed that the farming communities in the case study countries were indeed experiencing climate change variability and impacts. The most common indigenous technologies that have been continually applied by these farming communities include; multiple cropping to diversify production; early or late planting; mulching to retain soil moisture, texture and fertility; terrace building to prevent soil erosion; use of fertilizers; and prayers for God’s intervention among others. Although most indigenous technologies have been considered effective in coping with climate variability in the past, it remains unclear on how effective they will be in the light of further warming. However, it was recommended that the most effective and sustainable indigenous technologies used by the farming communities could be incubated with a view to upscale and out scale them in other areas so as to enhance adaptation to climate change and variability.

Food for Thought: Can Social Media be a Potential ‘Learning Tool’ for Universities?

Teaching tools are crucial for an effective learning for students. Since the birth of the concept of teaching and learning, the methods and tools involved in teaching have evolved gradually according to the need to the time. From the lecturing to written documents and now to the use of indigenous technologies like videos and smart boards, tools have been evolved along with the society and need of the audience. Today's world is surrounded by technology. Libraries have been replaced from Google, everything is in a reach of the tip of one's finger. Social media has reduced the distances between people in a literal term and at a global scale. Students/Lecturers are using social media as part of their daily routine and keeping this in mind, a question is being raised in this paper, can social media be used as one of the learning tools in today's education sector and what possible learning outcomes be achieved through its use? This paper tries to answer the question raised which could act as a ‘food for thought’ for lecturers/educators to consider, as a part of their curriculum design to create a more interactive, engaging and personalized tutor-centric learning environment.

Status of manufacture of ultrasonic systems in India

This paper describes the status of manufacture and use of ultrasonic test systems within the Indian industry. Brief description of some of the indigenously built systems are included. The wide industrial application base and use of indigenous technology to build the systems are unique to the Indian manufacturers.

The quest for affordable urban housing: A study of approaches and results in Harare, Zimbabwe

Approaches aimed at achieving housing affordability have long emphasised the housing unit. Conventional wisdom prescribes that affordability will be enhanced if the unit cost of a house is reduced. Classic solutions include the reduction of standards, use of indigenous technologies and materials, adopting self-help modes of delivery and addressing market imperfections. This study shows that while it is not unwise to reduce the cost of housing, there is a limit to this approach. Unit costs cannot be reduced indefinitely and non-cost-reducing strategies are therefore called for. The approaches hinge on improving the economic status of low-income groups by implementing measures that reduce household expenditure and/or boost their incomes.

Use of Indigenous Agricultural Technologies by the Rural Men and Women Farmers in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT The paper focuses on the differential attributes of rural men and women in using indigenous technologies in farming and household activities. Data were collected by two trained interviewers from three agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh, namely, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Comilla from 159 randomly selected households (48 male and 111 female) out of a total population of 1301 during 10 April to 02 October, 1996 through interview schedule. Selected parameters of the respondents such as their age, education, farming/household experience, and farm size were included in the schedule for measurement. In all 44 indigenous technologies were enlisted in the schedule. The indigenous technologies were identified through PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) prior to finalizing the schedule. Only the potential indigenous technologies were retained in the schedule. The findings reveal that a greater proportion of the rural women and men were illiterate and were in young and middle-aged categories, respectively, and had substantially high level of farming and household experience. The majority of the rural men belonged to the small farmer category, while most of the women were landless sharecroppers. Areas of use of indigenous technologies by the men and women showed marked differences. The men were mostly involved in using indigenous technologies in the field crops such as raising rice seedlings from the seed bed, sowing seeds in the fields, transplanting seedlings in the field, applying fertilizers in the field, inter-cultural operations in the field, and irrigating crop fields. On the other hand women were involved in using indigenous technologies in crops usually on the vegetables and fruits within and around homesteads.