First steps in village mechanisation
By: by George A. Macpherson.
Publisher: Tanzania Pub. House
Published: 1975
Place of publication: Dar es Salaam
Language: eng
Number of pages: 232
Subjects: Woodwork.; Farm mechanization -- Developing countries.; Agricultural implements -- Design and construction.
First sentence: Millions of people have missed the chance to become self-reliant in mechanisation matters, because mechanisation was brought to them ready made.
Description: For village development workers. This is a 'how to' manual, with many illustrations and photographs, suggesting methods of making labour-saving tools and equipment for farmers and builders - using locally available skills, materials and animals.
Notes: Although this book was written in 1975, after a three-year practical working contract at Tanzania Agricultural Machinery Testing Unit, its principles and techniques are mostly still valid in 2008 - in communities where there is very little available money. The UNDP/ILO project was an 'appropriate technology' initiative for Tanzanian villagers who depended on subsistence farming. The machines and tools designed and made in the project could all be maintained, repaired and replicated in the village - by village people, using readily available materials. The prices quote in the book, of course, need to be updated - and new technologies have to be taken into consideration.
Table of contents: title: Chap 1 -8 all aspects of starting, using, managing and expanding a village workshop; making tools and equipment and training workers and livestock.; title: Appendix 1: photographs of tools and equipment produced 1970-73