permaculture

["Kisan Mehta" <kisansbc@vsnl.com>]

Dear Colleagues,

It may be topical to take note of  development  in the Human Powered Tools
in India when the matter is being discussed in the Pwermasculture
networking.

In the developing countries it is usual to find tradesmen innovating simple
human and animal operated tools.  These extensions are normally carried out
by the users looking for ease in operation or assuring efficiency in inputs.
Qualified enqineers develop electrically operated machings that farmers
cannot use because of non-avail;abiilty of power supply.

Mr Chandrakant Pathak, a mechanical engineer qualified under western norms
decided more than 30 years ago to use his faculties to devise  simple tools
to be operated without resort to electricity.  Electric supply was rare and
highly restircted. Villages had and even have no possibility of getting
uninterrupted supply. So he avoided electrically operated instruments and
machines. He has developed a whole range of manually operated tools as can
be seen on his welsite
www.moderntechnicalcentre.com   The website is not regularly monitored hence
it is likely that new innovations may not have been included. Yet  it would
be worthwhile to see the range. He can be contacted on
info@moderntechnicalcentre.com for further information.

His approach is not only guided by the non-avilability of grtid electric
supply which is the case for farmers in India and in the developing
countries but to show that famring is not amenable to high technology and
commercialisation.  Human labour is basic for satisfying agricultural
operations. He has shown that agriculture can better be pursued  manually as
it provides dignity to farming that sustains life on the earth.

His establishment Modern Energy Park is located about 140 km  from  Mumbai.
We would be happy to assist Permaculture friends
to visit the Park. Mr Pathak himself takes visotrs round and  personally
operates the instrucments to prove that htey are simple ot operate.    What
he needs is an appreciation and support in continuing his lifetime
dedication.

We believe that such innovations can help dedicated farmers to be and remain
out of the clutches of commercial farming tactics.

Best iwshes.
Kisan Mehta and Priya Salvi
kisansbc@vsnl.com