Bøger udgivet af Practical Action Publishing

This book addresses, in the Bangladesh context, the fundamental processes of agrarian structural change and their gender implications, opportunities for wider participation by landless men and women in agricultural growth; the social implications of rural works and fish culture programmes; rural institutions and poverty alleviation; and broad institutional questions arising from the interaction between state, market and community (including NGOs) concerning corruption, good governance and the franchise state. Throughout the volume there is long-range, but grounded speculation which connects processes of ''urbanisation'' to patterns of land use and shifting sets of opportunities for poor actors. The author concludes by offering eleven working principles as a guide through the development maze of poverty alleviation in Bangladesh.

This is a comprehensive guide to the processing of traditional foods, from Asia, Africa and Latin America, which are made and sold at a small commercial scale of operation. It provides technical information needed by small food businesses to introduce or upgrade their processes and products, and also serves as a suitable guide for new enterprises in the correct production of foods. The book will be of interest to development workers involved in support to small enterprise development programmes, aid agencies, and students of food science and technology, development studies and related disciplines.

Traditional milling is a time-consuming and laborious task for rural women, and there is a great need to mechanize this operation. However, traditional milling practices have many nutritional advantages for children and women which are not associated with the new milling techniques and instead of being an improvement there is a great risk that improved milling will be a threat to vulnerable groups. This book is essential reading for anyone involved in milling in developing countries, and the target reader is the extension agent promoting improved small-scale milling techniques. The book can be used both as a manual and course material for training at a number of levels.

This book turns the standard approach to the poor and poverty upside down by focusing not on the weakness of poor people but on their strengths. The author considers how poor people in three villages in West Bengal experience poverty in its many forms, and battle for both resources and respect. This is in contrast to the way the poor are usually represented in aid discussions and in development discourse, as well as local dialogue, which usually influences external intervention to result in a top-down approach to poverty prevention programmes.

Nearly one third of humanity still live in semi-darkness after sunset, no better off than in earlier centuries, mainly because they are beyond the reach of mains electricity. The traditional forms of lighting such as candles, oil lamps, kerosene pressure lamps, butane lamps tend to be inefficient and inadequate for many applications.Recent technical developments in electrical lighting have led to exciting new possibilities such as highefficiency compact fluorescent lamps. Such lamps can increase the economic use of solar photovoltaic power systems or small wind-powered systems. These, and other new lighting technologies are becoming available and more affordable, but it can be difficult to know which types and sizes are most appropriate for different purposes.To meet these needs, Rural Lighting provides information to assist development workers and project managers working in rural or semi-urban development, health, farming, small business sectors to decide:ΓÇó What level of light is necessary to meet the needs.ΓÇó Which type of lighting sources would be most suitable.ΓÇó How to provide small amounts of power for lightingΓÇó How to implement cost-effective lighting systemsRural Lighting also includes an illustrated Buyers Guide'' section providing up-to-date information on lighting systems and products available and listing addresses of manufacturers in many countries around the world.

Using case studies from India this book presents a conceptual model of commercialization of rural technologies in developing countries. It concludes that India has not placed enough emphasis on ensuring the efficiency of small-scale production units.

Manual oil extraction from peanuts or other soft oil-seeds can be a viable enterprise for small businesses. This book describes small-scale processes of oil-extraction for possible use in rural areas, as well as ways to market and distribute the oilcake.Manual oil extraction from peanuts or other soft oilseeds can be a viable enterprise in rural areas, securing supplies of fresh, nutritious oil and oilcakefor the local market and providing an income for small-scale farmers and businesses.The manual screw press (also known as the bridge press or spindle press) can help to make the extraction process more efficient and less arduous and, as it can be constructed by small workshops, can be obtained locally.This practical handbook describes the full process of oil production with a manual screw press, step by step, as well as detailing health and safetyguidelines, equipment requirements, maintenance procedures, and approaches to sales and marketing. There are useful appendices which cover record keeping, financial considerations, and the use of a roller mill to speed up crushing, which is one of the essential prepatory stages for maximum oil production.Based on the authors'' experience in Malawi, the book offers helpful advice to anyone starting up (or, indeed, already involved in) a small-scale project in oil processing.

This guide for carpentry instructors includes detailed plans for practical demonstrations, and important theoretical aspects of the craft. The tools include planes, clamps, workbench and vice. There is also a section on basic blacksmithing techniques.

Challenging the Professions questions the dominant approaches of professions, disciplines and bureaucracies concerned with rural development. The theme is that ''we'', who call ourselves professionals, are much of the problem, and to do better requires reversals of much that we regard as normal. The challenge is to upend our thinking, to turn values on their heads, to invent and adopt new methods, and to behave differently. The frontiers are personal and professional, requiring changes which are radical but quite surprisingly practicable: to question our values; to be self critically aware; to see simple as often optimal; to offset our spatial and seasonal biases; to help rural people do their own analyses; to stay in villages and learn from and with rural people; to test and use participatory approaches, methods and procedures; to encourage decentralization and diversity; to put people before things, and poor people first of all.

The catalogue builds on both the earlier edition of The Power Guide and The Equipment Directory produced for training courses by the Technology and Development Group of the University of Twente in the Netherlands. The data has been comprehensively revised and updated on the basis of research carried out by members of the Technology and Development Group, Densi Tech BV of the Netherlands, and Intermediate Technology in the UK. The Power Guide will facilitate decision making by providing guidelines most appropriate renewable energy source as well as providing information on hundreds of products from almost 500 manufacturers and suppliers in over 40 countries throughout the world, covering the following areas:ΓÇó solar photovoltaic equipmentΓÇó wind pumps and wind generatorsΓÇó micro-hydro equipment, hydraulic ram pumps and water current turbinesΓÇó biomass pre-treatment. combustion and steam systems, and gasifiers.The information is divided into chapters by energy source, each with an introduction containing guidelines for equipment selection and the possibilities and constraints of using that source. This is followed by manufacturers" data with key information about the equipment. Guidelines are also included for the selection of internal combustion engines, and solar-thermal, biogas and ethanol equipment. This is essential reading for all those who are interested in renewable energies or responsible for selecting energy equipment throughout the world.

Developing Building for Safety Programmes summarizes the basic principles to be considered in the planning and implementation of community-based building improvement programmes for small dwellings in disaster-prone areas. Including case studies illustrating suggestions made. These guidelines for safe building improvement programmes in disaster-prone areas cover a range of topics and emphasize that the constraints on the building of dwellings are complex interactive procedures.The relationships between technical, social, economic and political considerations is rarely clear - particularly when seen from the standpoint of the builder or occupier.

This book describes principles and construction techniques for builders, householders and communities who are building in hazard-prone areas. The principles are clearly and simply presented- and in a form which can be adapted for use in training or public information campaigns.

Compendium of key publications, organizations, information sources and funding agencies for building improvement programmes. Over 100 selected publications and institutions.

A cement material, or binder, is an essential ingredient in most forms of building construction. Portland cement has become a widely accepted cementitious material, but it is more expensive than other binders and unsuited to small-scale production. In addition, although it is stronger than most alternatives, there are uses for which alternatives such as lime are more suited. Lime is versatile, durable and suitable for use in complex and intricate decorative and restoration work, as well as in simple buildings. If greater strength is required, a variety of materials known as pozzolanas can be added to the lime. Examples of pozzolanas include rice husk ash, brick dust and certain types of naturally occurring volcanic ash. The most successful material in any area depends on local primary resources and the development of appropriate technology. Lime gypsum and lime pozzolanas could be reintroduced successfully if more information were available and appropriate building standards enforced. This book brings together expert knowledge from around the world about the use of different alternative binders, presenting case histories which demonstrate the successes and the pitfalls, as well as practical information based on experience. A recurring theme in the book is the need to work towards the wider acceptance of lime, and alternative binders by: establishing realistic performance standards for alternative cements and getting these standards accepted in international, national and local building codes and standards. Establishing simple testing procedures to measure compliance with these performance standards; holding seminars and training courses and compiling case study material on existing production and use; and, initiating research and development projects of a practical nature.

Emphasises how to improve the access of poor self-employed women to financial services. Includes a review of current knowledge about women''s need for finance, how this is presently met and how this could be improved.

Hill Irrigation examines the environmental constraints and socio-economic contexts to successful mountain agriculture, and reviews the policies and technological approaches used to promote irrigation in different mountain regions.

A complete coverage of strategic trade theory and application, imperfect competition, market power, and the political economy of agricultural trade. An easy-to-use analysis of trade principles, institutions, and policies.

Links the gender perspective on small-scale industry which explicitly concentrates on social groups, with economic questions of higher employment and wider distribution of production.

Lime is not only an important building material but an essential ingredient in many industrial processes, such as agriculture and sugar manufacture. As a binder in the construction industry, it is simpler and cheaper to produce than Portland cement and yet just as effective for most building requirements in the Third World. As such, lime has a valuable role to play in the development process. The experience at Chenkumbi in central Malawi has demonstrated that vertical shaft kiln technology (VSK) can be adapted to small-scale production and produce high grade chemical lime economically. Another benefit of this technology over traditional methods is that coal or plantation-grown softwoods can be burnt in preference to native hardwoods ΓÇö a process that has been leading to severe deforestation in the region.

This source book describes the traditional methods of fish processing and then looks at new and improved techniques which in most cases can be constructed locally. Types of processing covered include drying, salting, smoking and fermenting.INTRODUCTION ix1 Principles of fish processing 1Spoilage 1Effective handling practice 2Effective processing to inhibit spoilage 3Insect infestation 7Packaging, transport and storage 82 Traditional fish processing methods 10Drying 10Salting 11Smoking 12Fermentation 12Outlines of traditional processing methods 13Prevention of insect infestation 263 Improved processing and equipment 27Pre-processing aspects 27Drying 29Salting 32Smoking 33Fermentation 35Prevention of insect infestation 354 Case studies 395 Planning a project or enterprise 486 Illustrated guide 51REFERENCES 64FURTHER READING 66CONTACTS 67

Focuses on the processing of four cereals - maize (or corn), rice, sorghum and wheat. A useful guide for those intending to set up a cereal-processing enterprise. Topics include harvesting, threshing, storage, milling, hulling, baking and fermenting.This source book is one of a continuing UNIFEM series which aims to increase aware­ness of the range of technological options and sources of expertise, as well as indicating the complex nature of designing and successfully implementing technology develop­ment and dissemination programmes.

Human settlement planning involves a multi-disciplinary approach incorporating not only technical questions of housing but also problems of services, health, management and economics.

This book answers the questions: What has development done for women? Why do planners talk of integrating women into development? What role do women really play in multinational companies? In food production? In health? In communication and education? Reprinted in 1991.

Presents a varied collection of reports from researchers and fieldworkers, who are supporting the efforts of farmers in small-scale farming in diverse and risk-prone areas, and linking up experimental farmers so that they can learn from one another (Published in the ILEIA Readings in Sustainable Agriculture series).

A buyer''s guide to systems for water-pumping and treatment, lighting, refrigeration, communications, and other applications. . Small solar powered devices are in use in developing countries for lighting, vaccine refrigeration, water pumping and other important development products, but little information is available on them. This book aims to meet this gap by providing information on selecting between products - photovoltaic systems for water-pumping, water treatment, lighting, refrigeration, communications and various other small-scale applications.

Explains and assesses the uses of computers in record-keeping, accounting, education, CAD-CAM, expert systems and geographic information systems, and provides a methodology for attacking the problems of resource assessment, utilization and communication.

A detailed survey of the main areas of bio-energy and biomass, solar energy and hydro, wind and water power. The authors address the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energies, their appropriateness, and their socio-economic implications.