Muhammad Taher

The causes of some of the major concerns of the world today have been attributed to the so-called advanced new scientific knowledge. Global warming, and the Greenhouse Effect; increased poverty and violence; the widening gap between rich and the poor are only some of the examples of an uncertain future for an already troubled world. This is not to say however, that all new scientific knowledge is to be despised and shunned. What is needed is a more selective approach in their use with an emphasis on increased use of indigenous technological knowledge appropriate to local conditions. This selective use must be one that promotes sustainable development thus making the earth free from poverty, hunger and violence.

Visible gains attained from changes in policy are often highlighted without considering the small, but essential key triggers that caused them. This paper argues that scientific innovations within the context of a developing rural economy takes time to work its way up from grass root level before they are generally accepted by the poor. This is because focus on the practical aspects of the knowledge acquired is often missing. Moreover risk elements in the implementation process of a technology for poor producers and large entrepreneurs, affecting the sector-confidence and sector-growth often unequally share scientific innovation. We shall try to illustrate this by looking at two stories of rural innovation in the Agro-processing sector of Bangladesh: the recent break-through in the small scale milk-processing sector and small-scale seed-processing and preservation practices by small-scale farmers. Through these stories, we shall endeavour to bring out the issues and factors, which play a key role in the process but have so far received little attention due to a lack of care and connection.
We shall also briefly discuss a particular issue of concern regarding how the implementation of particular macro policies, if rigidly followed, can sometime constrain the innovation process and thus the sustainability of impact - with a particular reference to the current global concern for poverty alleviation and MDGs. The three separate stories are presented here as examples of different kinds of challenges and positive triggers in the development sector that aims to alleviate poverty through linkages with small-scale farm households. In these three stories what is common is that policies introduced to benefit the ‘sector,’ were not only serving the interest of the vocal and influential people, as generally assumed, but also the large number of poor producers, albeit in a different way by different ‘triggers.’ What enabled the concerned people to be innovative and effective is generally unknown to those not involved because policy interventions tend to elude these crucial aspects of development knowledge. This paper is intended to bring into the limelight, just a couple of points

The analysis of the context highlights the issue of elite dominance in Bangladesh society that results in highly skewed distribution of resources. Resource inequalities and corruption are widespread and this affects the poor most. The poor lacks voice and organisation, while the nexus between the dominant elites, politicians, businesses and public administration mainly work towards fulfilling their own self-interest. Lack of knowledge, education and awareness of the poor about their rights and entitlements often make it difficult for them to assert themselves effectively. Nonetheless, people work hard and dream of a changed situation for them. Hence, they need help with imaginative and innovative ideas in order to realise their dreams

The analysis has adopted a broader view of equality, justice and democracy to include the issue of access to economic resources and services for the poor. Some of the indicative ideas for change noted in this paper envisage changes in the democratic order in the country which will ensure human rights and gender equality, as well as increased access to resources and services for the excluded groups of people. This will create an enabling environment for an effective and faster poverty reduction in Bangladesh.