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Back to Rural Development
PARTICIPATORY
SELF-RELIANCE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT:
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY (APT)1. RECEIVING & TRANSFERRING CENTERS
2. KHIDMAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
3. Economics
4. CONSERVATION IRRIGATION
5. SUB-SOIL & DRIP IRRIGATION
RECEIVING & TRANSFERRING CENTERS:
Various National and International Agencies have carried out much research and development, both within and outside Pakistan. For this, a great deal of knowledge, effort and expense has been used. Unfortunately, there is no transfer of these appropriate technologies to the rural areas or the common man. The establishment of Appropriate Technology (APT) Receiving & Transferring Centers can very easily remedy this. These Centers would act as a conduit for passing on various cost effective and useful technologies that can vastly improve the lives of the common man and also boost their earning capacities by providing skills and materials for Basic Economy Generation. This, in turn, would have a great impact upon the area and eventually prove to be the most solid form of self-reliant development. The overall results can then be shared with the rest of the Nation. This will prove to be the preferred method of extricating Pakistan from the present impasse and stagflation. Indeed, this may be the only course open to us! Depending upon the scope of operations that is determined for the Centers, at most a cost of Rs. 5 million per Center is envisaged. In real economic terms this is an insignificant amount and the returns of such an Institution is not quantifiable. They assume the shape of Agri-Poly-Technics. The objectives of such Centers are as follows:• Pass on Viable and Appropriate Technology to the Rural populace.
• Provide Hands on Training (HOT) to Rural Poor.
• Serve as Center of Excellence to Demonstrate Alternates.
• Carry out Adaptive & Applied Research & Development.
• Operate in the fields of:Agriculture/ Horticulture.
Bio-Environmental Management.
Conservation Irrigation.
Micro Industry.
Community-based Marketing.
Nutrition Enhancement.
Emergency Medicine.
Primary Education.
Legal Aid.In order to realize these objectives the following simple strategy has been worked out:
• Survey and develop data banks and maps.
• Establish APT Centers, in conjunction with local Communities, on long lease land.
• Determine Priorities.
• Prepare Budget & Working Plan.
• Identify Conservation Projects.
• Establish Facilities (Composting, nurseries, nutrients, hormones, bacteria etc.).
• Carry out Stream surveys.
• Recruit staff and interns.
• Carry out Afforestation/ Reforestation Drives with adequate supply of nutrients.
• Carry out Orchard Rehabilitation(Nutrition/Cultural practices/Biological amendment).
• Establish Small, Self Sustaining, Modern, Horticultural Farm (Alternate crops/ Liquid Nutrients/ Natural Hormones/ Friendly Bacteria/ Seed Inoculation & Treatment with Nutrients/ Conservation Irrigation/ Other Cultural Practices).
• Establish Appropriate Micro Industry.
• Commence Hands on Training (HOT).
• Carry out Conservation Projects Erosion control, stream pollution control etc.
• Establish Emergency Medical Facility, Provide Services and Training.
• Establish Adult Literacy/ Primary Education Centers.
• Provide Legal Aid to the poor.
• Conceptualize, Design and raise funds for appropriate Works/ Projects.
• Carry out On-Going Review, Prepare Reports & Returns, Share Experiences.
KHIDMAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM:
The Khidmat (Service) Management System or "Khidmat Intezami Nizam," has evolved from an Agricultural/ Horticultural Management System, into an Alternate Economy Management System. Its focus is primarily upon the deprived masses that live in the countryside, as small landholders and landless peasants. These same people have been forced, by economic circumstances, to migrate en-bloc to the cities, where they live in miserable slum conditions and try to eke out a subsistence living. To reverse the trend of rural to urban migration and jump start the rural economy. An Alternate System has been painstakingly evolved and tried out on ground. This Social Experiment has produced amazing results! Totally uneducated Youth have been adorned with high-tech Skills that enable them to make a visible impact upon their surroundings. Secondly, agricultural produce has been vastly improved. Input costs have gone down by 20% in some cases and outputs have been increased by 30 to 50%. Energy costs can be contained and better quality life for all can be assured. In order to enable the Khidmat Management System to evolve into a dynamic reality, it is first of all necessary to fully comprehend its scope and dimensions. Simply put, the System is an alternate view, with emphasis upon nurturing scarce natural resources and using them in the most efficient manner without exhausting their potential! The System takes into account and makes use of High Tech products and equipment. Most importantly the aim is to use the least expensive alternates that also provide the most impact in the shortest possible time. This is not to say that quality is allowed to suffer! Indeed the long term view is given priority and short term gains, though catered for, are given less importance than achieving long term goals. The System seeks to balance the whole rather than take a fragmentary look at the problems. The pattern of interconnectedness and interrelated feedback amongst subsystems is integrated to form a complete web of badly needed support. This safety net, once put into place, will provide the take off point for highly charged, positive development and dynamic change.
The Khidmat Markaz or Service Center is introduced into an otherwise economically depressed are. This Markaz or Center is the nucleus and facility for Agents for Change. The necessary Technical Skills and Development Tools are firstly received in these Centers and subsequently disseminated to the surrounding area. In short, a Viable and Working Solution is first put in Place and then used to train the deserving inhabitants of the area. With skilled workers more technical and value-added goods and services can be provided. The emphasis is upon nurturing skills and resources and employing them for Basic Economy Generation. There is no point in over elaborating this vital aspect that is The Missing Link in the Chain of Progress. We have to enable the small landholder and rural landless to generate economy. This Micro Management is just as important as the Macro Balancing Act that is being undertaken by Pakistan's Economy. When each single building block of society is secure in its existence, when we are, one and all, emancipated from subjugation to an exploitive and restrictive economy, the so called Free Enterprise, which is in practical terms a Free-for-All Economy, ruled by Mafias, Pirates and Czars! When we enter into an Egalitarian, Just and Equitable System that Creates and Thrives rather than Parasitically lives off the Blood, Sweat and Tears of a lower class! Only then we complete the fragmented cycle of ecologically balanced, self rejuvenating and self-sustaining Khidmat or Service Oriented Economy.Our system of social interdependence, in the rural areas, has fallen prey to the ruthlessness of materialism and existentialism. The vital safety net needs to be replaced. Fragile human relationships have fallen before the imperatives of need. The system of sharing and caring has gone. It has to be replaced and that too on an emergency basis.
The complete integrated whole that is depicted in the following Chart serves as an Economically viable and functioning system that also provides its services as an Agri-Poly-Tech Institute. This provides the deprived individuals with the skills necessary to maintain themselves and to be of use to society as a whole. Thus the Markaz aims to enhance human potential through a process of demonstration, exposure and hands on training that is pertinent to his situation in a manner that is consistent with good Bio-Environmental Management. Thus, Human and Resource Management are catered to at one and the same time. This Dynamic process of Practical Education and Ecological Safe Production is definitely workable as proved on ground with various individuals at many locations in Pakistan.
Economics:
The economics of such Marakiz (Centers) vary from place to place, a general list is provided:• Land: 5 acres: Rs. 5 Lacs.
• Water Development: Rs. 2 Lacs.
• Kit for ESCAPS Construction: Rs. 1 Lac.
• Construction. Rs. 5 Lacs
• Equipment & Tools. Rs. 1 Lac..
• Horticulture. Rs. 3 Lacs.
• Energy Requirements. Rs. 1 Lac.
• Milch Animals. Rs. 1 Lac.
• Small Tractor & Implements. Rs. 2 Lacs.
• Poultry & Incubator. Rs. 1 Lac.
• Fabrication/ electric/ Electronic. Rs. 1 Lac.
• Office Equipment. Rs. 2 Lacs.
• Micro Industry. Rs.10 Lacs.
• Vehicles (Office + Spray Jeep): Rs.10 Lacs.
• Working Capital. Rs. 5 LacsTOTAL: Rs.50 Lacs (5 million).
• Establishment Time: 1 year.
• Recycling Time. 3 years.
• Pay Back Time. 7 years.
• Expected Rate of Return: 30 %
• Number of trainees per annum: 200
• Number of beneficiaries (Services): 5,000.
• Number of permanent Staff: 5.
The following benefits will accrue from the Marakiz ALONG WITH COMPLETE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, once they are established in economically depressed areas.
• LOW COST, EARTH SHELTERED, CERAMIC ADOBE, PASSIVE SOLAR CONSTRUCTION.
• INTENSIVE & ECOLOGICALLY SAFE AGRICULTURE/ HORTICULTURE.
• SUSTAINABLE AFFORESTATION/ RE-FORESTATION.
• CONSERVATION IRRIGATION.
• NUTRIENT FERTIGATION: PROVISION & TRAINING.
• PRODUCE STORAGE.
• BIOLOGICAL HERBICIDE/ PESTICIDE USE.
• COMMUNITY BASED FARMING & MARKETING.
• PROVISIONS OF INPUTS ON CREDIT.
• ALTERNATE MEANS OF ENERGY.
• HUMAN RESOURCE & BIO-ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT.
• NUTRITION ENHANCEMENT.
• IMPROVEMENT OF HYGIENE STANDARDS.
• EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES (Female & Handicapped).
• MICRO INDUSTRY.
• EDUCATION.
• REVERSAL OF RURAL TO URBAN MIGRATION.
• PROVISION OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY TO RETIRING PERSONNEL.
• BASIC ECONOMY GENERATION.
• RESOLUTION OF INTERNAL DIFFERENCES THROUGH SOCIAL COHESION BASED UPON WELL BEING.
CONSERVATION IRRIGATION:
Water is proving to be a precious an increasingly unavailable resource. The importance of water for our continued existence cannot be denied. While it is not necessary to belabor the point some alternate strategies are outlined below to provide some relief to the masses. This paper is primarily intended for efficient use of water in the Agricultural/ Horticultural Sector. We have taken the term "Conservation Irrigation" to include source; extraction, delivery and replenishment . Source will include surface and ground water, its harnessing ad development. This will also include survey and pollution control. Extraction will cover energy efficient means of harvesting and providing for use. This is primarily meant to reduce the per liter cost. The next stage is that of delivery. We are all aware of the tremendous losses incurred in this phase of water management. This factor will include low cost conveyance and efficient means of application. The final aspect is that of replenishment, this is primarily concerned with recharging of aquifers. Reforestation for natural recharging is dealt with separately. This is due to the pressure for immediate recharging and the long led time required for reestablishing natural charging. It is envisaged that tremendous savings can be effected by using these strategies. Both in terms of cost as well as liters used to achieve even better results than being had at present. There is a lot of room for improvement and scientific and responsible attitude has to be implemented at the earliest. Of course all these factors entail costs. However, all efforts have been made to ensure that costs are kept to a bare minimum. In many cases these costs will prove to less than what we are already expending in the present, wasteful manner of utilizing water. In any case costs will have to be met in order to ensure continued existence!
SUB-SOIL & DRIP IRRIGATION:
Sub-soil and Drip irrigation is a slow watering process aimed at delivering water and essential, soluble nutrients directly to the root zone of a plant. Here evapo-transpiration, plant requirements and other losses are estimated and an attempt is made to match them. This is done at a rate that the soil will adsorb. Obviously all this varies greatly with type of plants, kind and condition of soil and temperature. However efforts are made to keep the watering instructions as simple as possible. This is done by provision of guides for various conditions. The object of this exercise is to maintain the water content of the soil close to its field capacity in order to ensure that the plant has optimum water with sufficient aeration. In all other irrigation systems there exists a wet/ dry cycles. Secondly there is no possibility of delivery at peak demand times. For example when the sun is directly overhead between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm. During this period the droplets induced by sprinkle irrigation act like convex mirrors ad cause leaf burn by magnifying the intensity of the sun's rays. Flood irrigation cause water heating and reflection of the sun's rays onto the plant's foliage. Early morning irrigation to offset heat stress by mid day requires large quantities of water, most of which is wasted through evaporation and percolation. Evaporation creates humidity which in turn encourages disease and pests. Dry soils with low organic content and in the absence of mulch are easily heated. This causes stress to te plant resulting in reduced yields. On the other hand saturation results in no availability of oxygen. This effects the internal metabolism of the plant and again reduces yields. The figure given below illustrates the foregoing: