Practical Answers

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  Woodworking

  Running a successful woodworking enterprise is dependent on many factors, some of which are covered here.

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  Drying of Foods

  The drying of food results in longer preservation and ease of transport (lighter). This technical brief describes some of the requirements for food drying to retain maximum nutrients and aesthetics, and summarizes information on the various drying equipment.

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  Solar Photovoltaic Energy

  This Technical Brief looks at the background of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy (in which sunlight is directly converted into electricity), the design of PV cell, modules and arrays, and configuration of PV systems.

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  Mushroom Growing

  Developing commercial cultivation of mushrooms is growing throughout Africa. This brief focuses on this practice in Zimbabwe.

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  Solar Drying

  Drying using sunshine - a brief description of the basic principles behind it and how to determine the rate of drying.

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  Ginger Processing

  Ginger is valued for the dried ginger spice and preserved, crystallised ginger.

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  Fruit Preserves - Jams, Jellies and Marmalades

  An introduction to small-scale jams, jellies and marmalades making, Known collectively as preserves.

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  Guideline for Building Power Thresher

  Step by step pictorial description of how to build a power thresher cost effectively.

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  Making Stabilised Soil Blocks

  Deals with the two main problems that can arise with earth buildings: stabilisation and compaction.

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  Pepper Processing

  Pepper processing looks at the main post harvest activities. These activities include sorting, threshing and drying.