The Collaborative Design of a Low-Cost, Accessible Rice Seeder for Rural Cambodia: Trade-Offs and Challenges

Participatory design is an effective process for designing technology for communities in developing countries. However, few studies have provided a detailed account of its use and the enablers, barriers and trade-offs that need to be considered for effective implementation. This article presents the design process used in the design of a low-cost rice drum-seeder product. The project collaborated with a community of people with disability in rural Cambodia to create a new solution that enables people with mobility impairments to engage in rice farming. The authors share the process used, the technology created and provide important recommendations for future projects.