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Purpose, Audience, Structure of this tool
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Tanzanian family.©
FAO/2002/Tanzania.
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Purpose of the ideas catalogue
The Labour Saving Technologies and Practices (LSTP) ideas catalogue aims to enable rural communities to identify and assess labour saving technologies and practices which can reduce or spread the workloads and improve their livelihoods. It will be of particular relevance to communities where a shortage of labour or other sources of power is undermining household food and nutrition security, and the sustainability of rural livelihoods.
Audience
The idea catalogue has been written for use by people and organizations working in rural communities such as:
staff from government
local administration and NGOs
members of community-based organizations (including village development groups, farmer groups, income generating activity groups and other self-help groups)
others involved in field diagnostic studies
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Children with hoes.©
FAO/2002/Tanzania.
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Structure of the catalogue
The ideas catalogue focuses on addressing the main labour constraints typically found in rural communities:
Land preparation and cultivation
Harvesting
Post-harvest operations
Household tasks
Rural transport
Each section starts with a brief description of the labour constraint and then presents LSTP options to make the task either smaller or easier. The features of each LSTP are described, noting its advantages and disadvantages and infrastructure requirements.
The LSTPs presented in the catalogue only cover a small proportion of the total possible solutions to the constraints identified. Indeed, many of the most appropriate solutions may already be in use by innovative farmers in the community who have adapted them to suit local conditions. Further ideas may be found in the reading materials noted in each module.
Traditional methods used in the field are exposed and brief description of the labour constraint is given.
Features of the labour saving technology proposed are developed in one or several paragraphs.
Traditional methods
An assessment of the LSTP is made: advantages and disadvantages in terms of contribution to livelihood and requirements are given. (Cf. Box 1)
| Box 1: Eight key questions in term of advantages and disadvantages of the LSTP: |
Labour saving: to what extent will the LSTP save time and/or energy through reducing drudgery, increasing output or reducing the size of the task?
Livelihood strengthening: as a result of using the LSTP, will the existing livelihood system be made more secure by contributing to food and nutrition security through, for example, improving timeliness of operations, increasing yields, reducing losses or reducing environmental degradation?
Livelihood diversification: as a result of using the LSTP, will there be any opportunities to develop and diversify into new livelihood activities through, for example, offering equipment hire services to others, diversifying into new markets, manufacturing the equipment, or developing repair and maintenance services?
Equipment: will the inputs required be readily available and easy to operate?
Skills: will additional skills and knowledge be required to use the LSTP?
Cost: how expensive is the LSTP, in terms of initial investment and operating costs?
Risk: what are the possible risks associated with using the LSTP?
Infrastructure: what are the infrastructure requirements of the LSTP to ensure effective and sustained use?
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A detailed cost benefit ratio will need to be worked out for each potential LSTP using local prices. The calculation will examine specific components of the old technologies and practices used in relation to different components of the chosen LSTP, the costs of adaptation and delivery, and changes in benefits arising from using the LSTP.
Further information is available in the form of website links, and concern:
- Publications and projects on the technology studied
- Institutions and organizations specialized in the technology described
- Equipment manufacturers
- Technical information (on the equipment described, etc)
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