Solar dryer

  • Objective
    Approach

    Traditional methods of food drying is to place the foodstuffs in the sun in the open air. This method, called sun drying, is effective for small amounts of food. The area needed for sun drying expands with food quantity and since the food is placed in the open air, it is easily contaminated. Therefore, one major reason why sun drying is not easily performed with larger quantities of food is that the monitoring and overview becomes increasingly more difficult with increasing food quantities.

  • Knowledge partner
    Knowledge partner
    Country of registration
    United Kingdom
    Relation to CTCN
    Network Member
    Knowledge Partner
    Sector(s) of expertise
    Agriculture
    Early warning and Environmental assessment
    Renewable energy
    Energy efficiency

    Practical Action Consulting (PAC) is the consulting arm of Practical Action, an international non-governmental organisation that uses technology to challenge poverty in developing countries.

  • Publication date
    Objective

    Description of the project: India produces large quantities of fruits and vegetables, but more than 50% of this is wasted. The project aims to: 1) demonstrate the commercial viability of solar drying of fruits, vegetables and condiments, and convert them into profitable products on a micro enterprise scale; 2) equip rural poor women with solar dryers and train them on proper use. Sthree Sakthi Mahila Samajam installed solar powered air dryers in 2017 under the Socio-Economic Program of AIWC.

  • Knowledge partner
    Knowledge partner
    Country of registration
    India
    Relation to CTCN
    Network Member
    Knowledge Partner
    Sector(s) of expertise
    Coastal zones
    Energy efficiency
    Water
    Renewable energy

    NTPC is  largest power utility in India with an installed capacity of 51,410 MW, plans to become a 130 GW company by 2032. NTPC has comprehensive Rehabilitation & Resettlement and CSR(Corporate Social Responsibility) policies well integrated with its core

  • Publication date

    Background

    Many different financial instruments have been used individually to promote renewable energy development in rural settings. However taken in isolation most of these are not financially viable for small landholdings of 1/10 hectare. There is a need to redefine the role of RE by its capacity to develop high-value products rather than simply act as a substitute for another energy source and to develop and support the entire commercial chain through financing.

  • Pepper Processing

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

  • Spice Processing

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

  • Publication date

    This dryer is a mud brick construction built close to the ground using low-cost materials for all its parts. Practical Action Nepal has promoted this type of dryer in remote parts of the country. The solar dryer was a popular introduction because of its effectiveness, economic viability, simplicity and hygienic practice.

  • Banana Chips

    Banana chips are a snack food similar to potato chips. This Brief explores what a banana chips project might look like as an income-generating activity.