HAITI - APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY

APPROX 12 APT PROTOTYPES WILL BE TESTED TO DETERMINE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN IMPROVING RURAL HAITIANS" NUTRITION ACCESS TO WATER,USE OF ALTERNATV ENERGY SOURCES & OFF-FARM INCOME. PROTOTYPES TO BE DEVELOPED INCLUDE: ARID LANDS CROP DEVEL,SALT WATER FISHING,FISH PONDS,FOOD & SEED STORAGE & PRESERVATION TO IMPROVE NUTR;SOLAR COOKERS,WATER HEATERS,METHANE GENERATORS,AGR"L PYROLYSIS & COMBUSTIBLE ORGANIC BRIQUETTES & LIGNITE AS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES; DELIVERY & STORAGE MECHANISM & SOLAR DESALINIZATN FOR WATER ACCESS; & ARTISANRY HANDICRAFTS & HAND TOOL PRODUCTION TO INCREASE OFF-FARM INCOME. EACH PROTOTYPE"S ECON FEASBLTY,SOCIAL ACCPTNCE,ENVIRN"L IMPACT WILL BE RIGOROUSLY EVAL; PROTOTYPES WILL ALSO UNDERGO PILOT DISSEM IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES,WITH GRAPHIC DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE CREOLE LANGUAGE,TO IMPROVE IMPACT OF PROJ ON HAITIAN POOR. PROJ ACTIVITIES WILL CENTER ABOUT A MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE NATIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL"S(CONADEP) OFFICE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY(OST). ALSO,AN APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY CENTER(ATC),A WORKSHOP FOR DESIGNING,CONSTRUCTING & TESTING PROTOTYPES,WILL BE ESTAB AT ST MARC,NEAR PORT-AU-PRINCE. OST/ATC WILL SERVE AS THE CENTRAL LOCUS OF PROTOTYPE SELECTION,TESTING & ADAPTATION TO THE RURAL ENVIRON. OST/ATC WILL ALSO PROVIDE LOGISTICAL & TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO FIELD PERSONNEL,EVALUATE TESTING RESULTS & PROMOTE PROTOTYPE DISSEM,A PROCESS IN WHICH PVO"S ARE EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE HEAVILY. THIS PROJ CONSOLIDATES EARLIER PROJ "INTERMEDIATE TECHNOLOGY" WITH PROPOSED PROJ,SIMPLE TECHNOLOGY. THUS,SOME OF THE DEVICES & METHODS ARE PRESENTLY IN USE IN HAITI, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN SITE-ADAPTED TO RURAL AREAS. PARTICIPATING IN TESTING & DISSEM OF PROTOTYPES WILL BE FOREIGN TECH CONSULTANTS,PVO"S & OTHER HAITIAN AGENCIES SUCH AS DEPT AGR(NATURAL RSORCS & RUR DEV),NAT"L INSTITS OF MIN"L RSORCS & DEV AGR/INDUST,COMMUNTY HELP ORG.