The stimulation of windpump markets in developing countries

Efforts to promote the use of wind powered water pumps in developing countries have historically been technology led. Despite the existence of a substantial world-wide market for windpumps the number of machines sold falls far short of the potential. The major barriers to the development of the windpump sector were discussed at an international workshop held at Silsoe in 1994 and can be summarised as; the lack of financial resource for manufacturers and buyers poor awareness of the technology ineffective maintenance programmes design and manufacture problems. The workshop resulted in the UK Overseas Development Administration's (ODA) Technology Development and Research (TDR) programme funding the development of an international network to provide information and training support for windpump programmes in developing countries and to encourage the development of those markets through the networks. This paper outlines the formation of the national networks in four developing countries in Asia and their activities to develop the windpump market in their countries. The conclusions of an international workshop held in India 'Local developments for windpumps in Asia' are described. In addition the method used to form and support the national networks is discussed with comments on the potential for this type of external assistance.