 >RIPCO (B) Profile
Company Profile
Rural Industries Promotions Company Botswana (RIPCO (B)
RIPCO (B) is a parastatal organization and it operates under the portfolio responsibility of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST). It has a Board of Directors which formulates its corporate business strategy. RIPCO (B) is headed by the Managing Director.
Established in 1974, the Rural Industries Promotions Company (Botswana) (RIPCO (B)) aims to undertake research and development for industrial development in Botswana. In addition, the company is responsible for the development and dissemination of its technological breakthroughs to improve the living standards of Batswana throughout the country.
Headquartered in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, RIPCO (B) implements its R & D mandate through the Rural Industries Innovation Centre (RIIC) in Kanye, in the Southern District of Botswana. Through this centre, RIPCO (B) has become the national appropriate technology development and dissemination organization for Botswana. RIIC is therefore the core business centre and the Research and Development Department of RIPCO (B). The company's development initiatives are based on five research areas as follows:
In addition to RIIC (the core business centre), RIPCO (B) is supported by six departments as follows: Managing Director's Office, Finance, Materials and Information and Communication Technology Department (FICTP); Human Resources and Administration Department (HRA), Business, Marketing and Extension Department (BMED) and Corporate Affairs Department.
The company implements its R & D mandate through the Rural Industries Innovation Centre (RIIC) in Kanye, in the Southern District of Botswana. Through this centre, RIPCO (B) has become the national appropriate technology development and dissemination organization for Botswana . RIIC is therefore the core business centre and the Research and Development Department of RIPCO (B).
Rural Industries Innovation Centre (RIIC)
The Rural Industries Innovation Centre (RIIC) is the core business function of the Rural Industries Promotions Company (Botswana). Located in Kanye in the Southern District of Botswana, RIIC is the national appropriate technology development and dissemination centre for Botswana.
It undertakes new and renewable energy activities with projects in solar cooking and pumping, biogas, energy management, solar space heating and solar cold room.
The centre also undertakes projects in building research such as the use of calcrete and fly ash as building materials; water and waste water development with projects in wastewater treatment through the constructed wetland, and sanitation projects.
RIIC implements an agricultural technology development programme which has resulted in the development and dissemination of various technologies as follows:
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Sorghum thresher
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Maize sheller
- Chaff cutters
- Fodder processor
- Planters (Sebele Standard Single Row and Tractor Drawn Double Row Planters)
- Mini Silo
- Grain grinder
- Hammermill
- Dehuller (Single Barrel)
- Double Barrel Dehuller
- Animal Feed Mixers (two and three augers)
- Small stock dipping tank
- Bush Pump
- Sorghum milling plant
- Animal feed mixing plant
The sorghum milling package, which is made up of the hammermill and dehuller has contributed to the development of a small scale decentralized milling industry in Botswana, which has also created employment opportunities for the citizens.
RIIC has also developed and disseminated baking technologies: the rim and kgotetso ovens.
The centre also has a full fledged design and drafting office which is responsible for the production of all technical drawings and designs of products. It also undertakes prototype development and testing to ensure that the resulting prototypes conform to the designs and provide a suitable solution to the problem for which the technology is being developed.
An R and D workshop, which is equipped with the latest machinery such as the CNC lathe, is responsible for production of all RIIC products before they are released into the market.
The Installation Unit installs all technologies purchased by clients which require this intervention.
Technology Development Process
The centre conducts a national needs assessment survey every two years to ensure that its development programmes comply with the needs of the people of Botswana. The recommendations of this survey are used for technology development. Other mechanisms that filter ideas for technology development into the R & D programme include brainstorming sessions and rapid rural appraisal studies. However, individuals within and outside RIIC can also approach the centre through the marketing unit with ideas to which a solution can be provided, if the ideas are feasible.
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