2. Affordability/Cost
For a technology to be relevant, it must be affordable to most
people. For example, in developing countries, the high cost of
investment for large-scale plants means that production is only
possible through direct government investment or through foreign
investors. In small-scale operations, the capital investment is low
and affordable to most people, thus relevant. For example, the
main capital investment for building stones is a blasting device to
loosen the rocks. This requires explosives and hand drills, but the
producer needs not invest in these capital items because he can
hire the services of a blaster. The main input for production in this
case is semi-skilled and unskilled labour. The returns to which
represent about 80 percent of the total cost of production.
3. Availability of appropriate
skills and local
knowledge
In most developing countries, lack of capital often co-exists with
an abundance of unskilled and semi-skilled labour. Large-scale
plants are typically capital intensive but most small scale
production units are labour intensive, and where operational
skills are required, they are usually basic and easy to acquire.
Therefore, small scale plants will be more appropriate for
developing countries than large scale plants. Relevant
technology must incorporate local knowledge to inform the
researchers. When local knowledge is involved, projects are
more effective as more people adopt the new technologies, and
these are often sustained.
4. Availability of opportunities
Coining back home to our country, Botswana, to assess the efforts
made in the development of relevant or appropriate technology,
relevant technology must be able to offer opportunities to the people.
The use of labour-intensive technology is relevant in developing
countries. Relevant technology must also be able to equip people with
appropriate skills to improve their living.
5. Availability of raw materials
The production of a particular good or service is determined by
the availability of raw materials at the local level. For large-scale
plants, production is only justified if there is a large local reserve
of the raw materials and if the raw materials are of high quality. In
most countries there is limited occurrence of large deposits of
high-quality raw materials but an abundance of small deposits of
raw materials, often of an inferior quality. Small deposits of raw
materials despite being inferior in quality are often suited to
small-scale technologies. For example, a basic steel industry can
be developed in most developing countries using readily
available supplies of raw materials such as scrap metal.
6. Running cost of the
technology
Relevant technology must have low running cost, especially in
terms of fuel. Advanced technology needs fuel which is not
available in non-oil producingcountries It also needs spare parts
which might need to be imported.
7. Demand
The market for the technology must be large and willing to adopt it.
Relevant technology must conform to local attitudes and traditions for it
to be readily accepted.
Other factors such as the availability of infrastructure, distribution cost
and government policy might limit or enhance the diffusion of a new
innovation.
8. Level of development
Countries often find that their economies have already
developed along particular paths because of their history.
Developing countries have concentrated on producing raw
materials for export to Europe's industries. If the country wishes
to be less dependent on the world market, it may have to invest
in other productive sectors and remake its economy. Countries
can free themselves by developing relevant technology, or by re-
arranging their production processes. For example, they might
develop new ways to use plants which might have been viewed
as weeds in the past. Soya beans, for example, were once fed to
animals. But today they can be used as an important source of
proteins for human beings.
9. Flexibility
Relevant technology should be of low risk to the users, easy to
teach and demonstrate, easy to repair and should be tested
under local conditions.
10. Environmental risk and
adaptability
The technologies of industrialised countries are not always suited or
easily adaptable to the socio-economic and environmental conditions of
developing countries. Environmental risks arising from technological
and developmental decisions impinge on individuals and areas that
have little or no influence on those decisions. Relevant technology must
be environmentally sound and must take into account the interests of
individuals and areas that have little or no influence in their design,
making and application.
11. Sustainability
In order for technology to be relevant, it must be able to serve the
needs of the society over a long period of time.
I think you are now able to realise the type of technology suitable for
our country. Each country or society should choose the right technology
for its people. One should realise that sometimes a country or society
may choose to use more than one type of technology depending on its
goals and objectives. Let us consider our country, Botswana, and
evaluate the efforts made in the development of relevant or appropriate
