Notas Técnicas de ECHO (TN)

TN #41 Solar Dehydrator - 1/1/2001

Often the biggest challenge faced by a tropical farmer is not in the production of a crop but rather in the preservation of the crop. Farmers may want to preserve a crop for future consumption or for sale at a time when the market will offer a higher price.

Using a solar dehydrator is a simple, cost-effective way to preserve a variety of different crops. Dehydrating removes the moisture from food so that bacteria, yeast and mold cannot grow and spoil it. 

Cite this article as:

Dahlman, J. and C. Forst 2001. Solar Dehydrator. ECHO Technical Note no. 41.

TN #40 Estufa de Aserrin - 1/1/2001

Estas estufas son útiles en áreas donde el aserrín es un producto de desecho fácilmente disponible. El aserrín u otro combustible se apisonan bien en un marco de ladrillos o lata y arderá en forma bastante limpia con poco humo. Estas estufas pueden llevar a ebullición un galón de agua en aproximadamente 12 a 15 minutos y mantendrán una temperatura intensa por dos a cinco horas, en dependencia del combustible utilizado y compresión del combustible (aserrín fino, altamente comprimido se quema durante más tiempo que material grueso o suelto). Además del aserrín, los desechos fibrosos de plantas como la cascarilla de arroz, la cáscara de otros cereales, la cáscara de los granos de café y la paja pueden utilizarse como combustible. Al utilizar material más grueso es útil mezclarle algo de aserrín para ayudar a mantener compacto el combustible.

Cita este artículo como:

Dahlman, J. and C. Forst 2001. Estufa de Aserrin. ECHO Nota Técnica no. 40.

TN #39 Temas Relativos a la Introduccion de Nuevas Semillas en el Extranjero - 21/1/2000

Usualmente los norteamericanos no tienen idea de cuan diferente puede ser la horticultura en el trópico. Personalmente experimenté algo de este fenómeno cuando me mudé de Ohio en 1981 para convertirme en Director de ECHO. Yo ya había comprado semillas para mi jardín en Ohio cuando surgió la oportunidad de trabajar con ECHO. De manera que a finales de junio comencé a sembrar en mi huerto en el sur de la Florida. Me quedé perplejo cuando un señor de edad me dijo, “Aquí en Florida no cultivamos hortalizas en verano. Simplemente las dejamos crecer como maleza y no las tocamos hasta el otoño." -- ¿Porque alguien haría algo así?

Cita este artículo como:

Price, M.L. 2000. La Introducción de Nuevas Semillas al Extranjero. ECHO Nota Técnica no. 39.

TN #38 Cashew - 1/1/1999

The cashew, Anacardium occidentale, is a resilient and fast-growing evergreen tree that can grow to a height of 20 m (60 ft). It belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, which also contains poison ivy and the mango. Native to arid northeastern Brazil, the cashew was taken around the world by the Portuguese and Spanish who planted the trees in their colonies. The English name "cashew" is derived from the Portuguese "cajú" which came from the Tupi Indian "acaju" (Rosengarten, 1984). In Spanish it is known as "marañón" or "anacardo."

Cashew is an important nut crop that provides food, employment and hard currency to many in developing nations. Of all nuts, cashew is second only to the almond in commercial importance (Rosengarten, 1984). India, Mozambique, and Tanzania are the three biggest exporters of cashew nuts today. Although there are large commercial plantings of cashew, wild trees or those owned by small farmers account for 97% of cashew production (Rosengarten, 1984).

The plant produces not only the well-known nut, but also a pseudofruit known as the cashew "apple" and cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) which is used for industrial and medicinal purposes.

The cashew tree has other uses as well. It is used for reforestation, in preventing desertification and as a roadside buffer tree. Cashew was planted in India in order to prevent erosion on the coast (Morton, 1960). The wood from the tree is used for carpentry, firewood, and charcoal. The tree exudes a gum called cashawa that can be used in varnishes or in place of gum arabic. Cashew bark is about 9% tannin, which is used in tanning leather.

Cite this article as:

Davis, K. 1999. Cashew. ECHO Technical Note no. 38.

TN #37 Egusi Recipes - 1/11/1998

In West Africa, the name Egusi is applied to members of the gourd family having seeds of high oil content. Egusi Melon plants closely resemble watermelon plants; both have a non climbing creeping habit and deeply cut lobed leaves. The pulp of the watermelon fruit, however, is sweet and edible while the Egusi Melon has bitter and inedible fruit pulp. Egusi Melon seeds are larger than watermelon seeds, and they are light colored. Egusi Melon is cultivated in portions of West Africa, especially in Western Nigeria, for the food in the seed and as a crop interplanted with maize, cassava, or other crops.

Cite article as:

Welch, R. and K. Smith 1998. Egusi Recipes. ECHO Technical Note no. 37.

TN #36 Jicama - 1/10/1998

Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) of the fabaceae or leguminosae family is a short-lived perennial, often grown as an annual leguminous climbing vine, which during short days will flower, produce long, inedible pods, and develop tuberous roots. These are few in number per plant, usually spherical, but often lobed, and weighing several kilos per plant. The flesh of the root is white and crisp, even after cooking, and is covered with a tan skin or cortex, which is easily removed by peeling.

Jicama, (pronounced, HEE-kah-mah) also known as yam bean, originates in Meso-America and is naturalized in agricultural areas throughout the tropics. It is excellent for commercialization where markets exist, a useful home-grown crop for varying the diet, and a novelty vegetable for special uses due to its taste and crisp texture.

Cite this article as:

Price, M.L. 1998. Jicama. ECHO Technical Note no. 36.

TN #35 Quail: An Egg & Meat Production System - 1/9/1998

Many families in the tropics must assume a major role in production of their own foodstuffs. Incomes are so low that purchase of food competes with purchase of necessary items that cannot be hand-made. Most governments in the tropics do not have the resources to guarantee even minimum food to all of their citizens. Families in rural and urban situations often live in a minimum of space without soil that can be cultivated, or even a backyard in which a few animal cages can be placed. Such persons sorely need small scale systems that are in harmony with resources available.

Unfortunately, not enough study has been given to small-scale production systems. The small animals typically encountered on almost every small farm, chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits, are still too large for many households. A small animal for a minimum sized system should produce food in units that can be eaten at one meal so that refrigeration is not necessary. Furthermore, such systems should use resources available to most families, including feeds that can be grown or purchased, cages that are home made, and systems of sanitation that
protect the health of the animals and the residents of the household. The development of such systems has not attracted serious investigators.

The system described here, based on the Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica, is based on sound published information on this species and its requirements, and on three years of experimentation with quail at the household level. All apparatuses described were built and used, and actual costs and yields are reported.

Cite this article as:

Martin, F.W., A. Martin-Davis, and A. Maffioli 1998. Quail: An Egg & Meat Production System. ECHO Technical Note no. 35.

TN #34 Banana, Coco & Árbol de Pan - 1/6/1998

Hay más de cien especies principales de frutas en los trópicos, haciendo una contribución interesante al apetito y también a la nutrición. Estas especies varían en sus requerimientos ecológicos, en estación de producción, en rendimientos, usos, y por supuesto en otras características. Las tres frutas que son tratadas aquí son frutas sobresalientes por su importancia en alimentar a la gente. Estas frutas también producen mucha comida con un mínimo de esfuerzo. De hecho, forman parte de la dieta principal en los trópicos. En contraste, los mangos son muy importantes en los trópicos, pero pocas veces forman parte de la dieta principal. Los cítricos son variados, producidos ampliamente y disfrutados, pero nunca forman una parte principal de la dieta. Estos comentarios se pueden extender a otras frutas también.

Probablemente la fruta más importante de los trópicos en términos de distribución, uso y contribución como alimento es la banana (para fines de esta discusión, las bananas y los plátanos se considerarán juntos). Las muchas formas de comer estas frutas les hace un alimento diario muy popular. Su contribución nutricional primaria son sus calorías (en forma de almidón y azúcar).

El coco es común y es un alimento diario en algunas partes (pero no todas) de los trópicos. Se adapta bien y se puede cultivar en casi cualquier lugar. El árbol mismo es versátil en su aplicación y puede ser el árbol más útil de los trópicos. La fruta se usa en cada etapa de maneras únicas, y es una fuente significante de proteínas y una fuente principal de grasa en la dieta.

El árbol de pan, con nombre apropiado, sostiene la vida en el Pacifico. Su naturaleza como alimento principal es la razón para su introducción amplia en los trópicos. Para su tratamiento normal se han desarrollado métodos primitivos y modernos, y los cocineros nativos encuentran usos diversos para la fruta. Su contribución a la dieta es principalmente almidón, y las frutas maduras tienen altas cantidades de azúcar también.

Estas tres especies se pueden cultivar en el mismo terreno en áreas amplias de los trópicos. Una vez rinden, requieren de poco cuidado y rinden bastante para el esfuerzo requerido para producirlas.

Cita este artículo como:

Martin, F.W. 1998. Banana, Coco y Arbol de Pan. ECHO Nota Técnica no. 34.

TN #33 Winged Bean Recipes - 1/4/1998

Traditionally the people of Sri Lanka consume vegetable cooked as curries with the dietary staple, rice. Legumes, in general, play a vital role in Sri Lankan diets and they are being consumed as green vegetables or pulses. Edible legumes are excellent sources of dietary protein and oil. Nutritionists expect them to play an important role in meeting food needs, particularly proteins, at this period of food shortages and widespread prevalence of malnutrition. Immature pods of winged bean and to a lesser extent tender leaves and flowers are consumed by Sri Lankans as a vegetable. The potentials of the mature seed as a cheap source of protein and oil has not been exploited fully as yet for which research efforts must be directed.

The ambient temperature, rainfall and humid conditions in Sri Lanka are favorable for the cultivation of winged bean. By virtue of the fact that immature pods, seeds, tuberous roots, leaves and flowers are all edible and rich in protein, it is desirable for every one to grow this wonder plant as a backyard crop until a form of winged bean plant is breed suitable for large scale cultivation.

Cite this article as:

ECHO Staff 1998. Winged Bean Recipes. ECHO Technical Note no. 33.

TN #32 Protection of Plant Genetic Resources - 1/1/1998

The first section of this note focuses in on a new technology, called the ‘technology protection system’ by its developers and ‘terminator technology’ by its opponents. This technology illustrates the potential for patents to impact society at the fundamental level of food production.
The implications to humankind, especially to those producing food in the developing countries of the world, are significant; it behooves missionaries and development workers to be aware of what is happening in the area of patents and the protection of plant genetic resources. The second section provides a broader base of information on related issues such as the rights of plant breeders, seed companies, and nations in regards to plant materials.

Cite this article as:

Cox, D. 1998. Protection of Plant Genetic Resources. ECHO Technical Note no. 32.