Appropriate Technology, as defined by the Lesotho Government in its Five Year Development Plan 1991-95, is technology which brings immediate benefits but at the same time is socially and culturally acceptable to communities. The Appropriate Technology Services (ATS) Department defines ATS as services based on the real needs of rural and urban communities, priority sectors of the economy and small and medium scale enterprises. It is the delivery of practical, simplified and advanced technological solutions which support business activities; technology which suits local needs and conditions.
The ATS Department of the Ministry of Local Government researches develops and markets life-improving technologies for Basotho. Its mission is to achieve through technology research, development and application economically-viable development and growth for the benefit of rural and urban communities, community-based and other small and medium scale enterprises and entrepreneurs.
ATS fosters entrepreneurship-focused projects which benefit local, rural and urban communities, especially targeting technologies fostering small to medium scale businesses.The appropriateness of technology depends on its ability to contribute to development goals. Appropriateness can be calculated through the following measures:
- economic, for example, affordability, is the installation and ongoing maintenance of the technology affordable?
- social, for example, acceptability, is the technology culturally and traditionally acceptable, does it use existing community knowledge and skills?
- physical, for example, its availability and accessibility as a local or community resource;
- environmental, such as sustainability within the context of the total environment; and
- quality factors, is it well-researched, well-designed, well-tested?
ATS is currently involved in promoting products with potential for commercialisation including: a treadle pump, bread oven-proofer, solar box cooker, commercial food dryer and mushroom plantation and bee keeping for HIV/AIDS projects. It also promotes an entrepreneurship awards scheme.
ATS programmes focus on:
- Agricultural implements and technology
- Food technology
- Production and quality control
- Renewable energy, biomass technology and environmental protection
- Marketing, public understanding and education
- Entrepreneurship and business development
- Human resource advancement
- Indigenous knowledge
- Textiles
- Interdepartmental and international relations
There is an ATS dissemination officer position in each District. ATS can also be accessed at the Khubetsoana Centre, Maseru where its research and development and production facilities are located and the Malefiloane Centre, Mokhotlong where it has its production facilities.
Contact: Ph: + 266 2233 4539
Massachusetts Institute of Technology partnership
ATS has established a collaborative relationship with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the form of a website which facilitates communication between ATS engineers and MIT students and staff. The site is an online tool for use by students interested in applying their skills to real-world problems and staff wanting to seek practical examples to reinforce theoretical knowledge: http://web.mit.edu/ats/about.html
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