Practical Action Publishing

• 

  Solar Water Heating

  Solar water heaters generally employ a solar collector and a storage tank and provide hot water for washing and heating.

• 

  Solar Photovoltaic Water Pumping

  The advantages and disadvantages of solar water pumping are outlined in this document.

• 

  Solar Distillation

  The technical brief contains the information on solar distillation process that provides clean and safe drinking water to people living in areas with less access to it. Solar distillation is the process of removing salts and other impurities using the energy of the sun to get pure water for drinking...

• 

  Extrusion of Foods

  There are two types of extrusion process: cold extrusion, which mixes and shapes foods such as biscuit dough and pasta without cooking them; and hot extrusion (or extrusion cooking).

• 

  Spice Processing

  Small-scale processing of spices can be economically and socially successful.

• 

  Packaging Foods in Glass

  This Technical Brief is intended to advise small-scale producers on the methods and equipment needed to package foods in glass jars and bottles.

• 

  Human-Powered Handpumps for Water Lifting

  This brief presents an overview of the types of human-powered water lifters available, the applications appropriate to them, and their comparative advantages.

• 

  Seed Multiplication of Improved Open-Pollinated Varieties

  Community-based seed multiplication of open-pollinated varieties (OPV) can mitigate against hybrid seed unavailability and its soaring cost thereby increasing access to standard seed for communal areas, especially in drought prone areas.

• 

  Recycling Plastics: Starting a business

  An introduction to plastic recycling looking at the reasons for recycling and the practicalities of small-scale businesses.

• 

  Shea Nut Processing

  The cultivation, harvesting, processing and products of the shea-tree.