African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July, 1979 – Group Discussion on the Case Study 'Appropriate Technology for Grain Storage at Bwakira Chini Village'
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Date
1979-07-07
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Abstract
This report documents the group discussions during the African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research (Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July, 1979) on the case study of 'Appropriate Technology for Grain Storage at Bwakira Chini Village.' The discussion focused on the role of technology in rural development and the importance of understanding the peasants' needs and positions before implementing solutions. The researchers learned that assumptions based on external models can be counterproductive and that local participation is key in the success of technology implementation. Tensions arose when researchers presented foreign models of grain storage that did not align with local conditions, leading to valuable insights on the importance of community-driven solutions.
Description
The case study highlights the importance of not imposing foreign models of technology on local communities. It emphasizes the need for the researcher to understand the villagers' situation, respect their knowledge, and collaborate with them in designing solutions. The discussion also explored the potential pitfalls of using imported technologies without understanding local conditions, as seen in the villagers' resistance to the foreign grain storage models.
Keywords
Participatory Research, Appropriate Technology, Grain Storage, Peasant Empowerment, Rural Development, Village Development, Community Dialogue, Technology Application
Citation
(1979). African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July, 1979 – Group Discussion on the Case Study 'Appropriate Technology for Grain Storage at Bujakira Chini Village'.