Appropriate Technology

Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative works to develop and make available low-cost, ecologically friendly, labour saving technologies that respond to local needs and create income opportunities for farmers.

Centre for Appropriate Technology

SJI initiated a Centre for Appropriate Technology at Jigme Namgyel Engineering College (JNEC) in Dewathang and has undertaken four major projects with the new Centre, which is now recognized as one of the Royal University of Bhutan’s key research centre:

• Design and development of a made-in-Samdrup Jongkhar solar drier that was tested and approved by the Department of Agriculture’s Post-Harvest Centre.
• Design and development of rainwater harvesting systems
• Testing of a roto-weeder for organic System of Rice Intensification
• Design of waste segregation stations for local institutions

Solar driers:

• Installed 28 solar driers in remote Lauri and Serthi Gewogs mostly from local materials;
• Trained six women villagers and one JNP faculty in solar technologies at Barefoot College in Rajasthan and at the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women in Madhya Pradesh. Under SJI guidance, these women have then trained local villagers in the operation, maintenance, and repair of the solar driers
• Prepared solar drier case studies, interviewed farmers, and concluded that the solar driers have reduced market dependence, enhanced food self-sufficiency, and improved farmer livelihoods.
• Supervised on-the-job training in solar drier work for students at Jigme Namgyel Engineering College.
• Next steps are assisting farmers to market their solar dried produce and installing 100 more solar driers in Lauri, Serthi, and Dewathang Gewogs.

•  Solar Drier Project

• Rain Water Harvesting

  ×

  Solar Drier

  In February 2011, the co-directors of the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women in Madhya Pradesh, India, were invited to Samdrup Jongkhar to give presentations to Jigme Namgyel Polytechnic staff and students, agriculture officers and farmer representatives on the potential of low-cost solar drying technologies to open new market opportunities for Bhutanese organic produce. Such solar vegetable and fruit drying methods, it was explained, can help extend shelf life, access new markets and fetch good prices. The demonstration generated an enthusiastic response, in particular from the JNP faculty who promptly proposed to develop locally appropriate solar drying units for Samdrup Jongkhar based on the Barli designs, and train local farmer representatives in their operation and maintenance. This initiative would thus directly support the transition to organic farming in the district, and would also become the first training project led by the newly established CAT. The first ‘made-in-Samdrup Jongkhar’ solar dryer was built in November-December 2011, with support from the IDRC.

  Earlier in the same year, six women from the remote and non-electrified villages in the Lauri gewog had been selected and sent to participate in a six-month long training (March-September 2011) on solar engineering at Bunker Roy’s Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan (funded by the Government of India). Jigme Namgyel Polytechnic faculty member and focal person, Denten Zangpo, subsequently joined and accompanied the women for a further two-week training in solar drying technologies at the Barli Development Institute in September 2011. Since their return, the six women have begun applying their newly acquired skills in preparation for the project to construct 22 solar drying units in Lauri, based on the prototype developed by the JNP. These women, along with three mechanical engineering students from JNP who were involved in the construction of the first solar dryer, have also agreed to train Lauri villagers in the construction, use, operation, maintenance and repair of the units, and the preparation of foods for drying.

  In preparation for the implementation of the Solar-Dryer Project, a team of five, consisting of three JNP students involved in the construction of the prototype, the SJI farmer liaison and a member of the National Post Harvest Centre (NPHC), carried out a feasibility study in the villages of Lauri and Zangthey in December 2011, with the assistance of the newly trained solar engineers. The team successfully built and installed two dryers, and subsequently received positive feedback from both villages on their effectiveness.

  Funds for the Solar-Dryer Project in Lauri have been obtained from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Gross National Happiness Commission-initiated Rural Economy Advancement Program (REAP). The project aims to contribute to equitable and balanced socio-economic development and poverty eradication by putting in place a framework that will enable the poor to secure sustainable livelihoods by increasing their productive capacity. Thus, it is expected that the installation of the 22 solar-dryers will further enhance the skills and capacity of the six women solar engineers and local carpenters to construct and maintain such solar dryers, and the high quality of the solar-dried fruit and vegetable products will open new market opportunities leading to further income generation for the people of Lauri. The SJI has applied for fund release and major components of the project are scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.

  Close

  ×

  Rain Water Harvesting

  Rain Water harvesting

  Despite very heavy monsoon rains (about 5,300mm from May to September) Samdrup Jongkhar region faces a chronic and increasingly severe water problem. In the winter months, water supply is unpredictable due to sources drying up and/or damage of supply lines, while the heavy summer monsoon rains frequently wash away the pipes. Water shortages also create serious hygiene problems, with school students for example unable to clean toilets or wash their hands.

  In 2014, SJI and the Centre for Appropriate Technology at Jigme Namgyel Engineering College worked together to:

  • Design and install three rainwater harvesting units in three toilet blocks at Dewathang Primary School (DPS), with the principal, teachers and students joining SJI staff and JNP students in the installation (picture below).

  • Install two additional rainwater harvesting units at Chokyi Gyatso Institute.

  • Produce a brochure and logo (below) and lead discussions to explain and promote rainwater harvesting and its hygiene benefits.

  Collecting and bringing water to the school to clean the toilets used to be a daily requirement for the Dewathang school children, who can now focus more on their studies, while the rainwater harvesting units help ensure the toilets are always clean.

  Close

1. Solar Drying Pilot Impact Area, March, 2015.
2. Rainwater Harvesting Brochure, 2013.
3. Proposal for establishment of CAT in Jigme Namgyel Engineering College, 2011.
4. Report on Six Women Solar Engineers at Barefoot College Rajasthan India, Oct, 2011,
5. SJI proposal that was accepted by the Royal University of Bhutan in 2011.
6. Solar Drier Summary, 2011-2012.
7. Solar Drier Project in Lauri and Serthi, 2011-2012