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Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram , Dec. 12

Appropriate technology for regional development is nothing but a `systems approach' to technology choice, according to Prof R.V.G. Menon, energy conservationist and rural technology evangelist.

Delivering the keynote address at a seminar on `R&D needs for regional development' at the Regional Research Lab (RRL), Prof Menon said that wherever the technology, R&D was inevitable.

CONSTANT RENEWAL

Even where technology is readily available, the very nature of technology requires constant renewal and adaptation, if only to take care of changing factors such as raw material or conditions of production.

Field level production problems are inevitable and often require technical interventions.

In the case of traditional technologies, the practitioners usually depend on time-honoured solutions, which often prove to be insufficient to deal with rapidly changing production and marketing environments.

FIT CASE

Thus, modernisation of traditional technologies is a fit case for R&D intervention, Prof Menon said.

This can involve upgradation of production techniques and product design and diversification, better packaging and innovative marketing strategies, all of which calls for inputs from first-rate technologists and institutions.

But the upgradation of rural technology is usually carried out by the well-intentioned activist with a technical aptitude and not necessarily by qualified technologists from top-class institutions.

The concept of regional development opens the door to new considerations such as local development, employment generation, education, healthcare, and conservation and sustainability of environment within a locality or region.

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