SEED develops solar dryer to enhance shelf life of produce

BV Mahalakshmi in Hyderabad

To mitigate and bring down the dehydrating costs, Hyderabad-based Society for Energy, Environment and Development (SEED) has developed a new kind of solar dryer.

Depending on the capacity, the solar dryer will cost between Rs 3,000 and Rs 60,000 ranging from 2 a kg to 50 a kg. This process of dehydration will enhance the shelf life of the produce by about six months, Prof M Ramakrishna Rao of SEED told The Financial Express. The project was assisted by the ministry of non-conventional energy sources (MNES) and funded by UNDP and other nodal agencies.

Agri-horticultural exports from India are usually affected by poor dehydrating techniques adopted during the post-harvest period, besides lack of cold storages, no proper infrastructure, poor logistics, etc.

According to the industry estimates, not even one per cent of the agri- products are exported using value-added techniques such as dehydrated products, which have tremendous demand in up-country markets like Europe, Middle East and South-East Asian countries.

SEED has drawn an expertise to create an awareness on the energy issues and create devices to enhance the quality of life in the urban and rural areas. As part of this innovative approach, food processing using solar energy was identified as important areas, Prof Rao said.
In India, the conventional form of drying for removal of the moisture content in any of the produce is either by open drying under the sun or heating in large ovens, which is not accepted by western countries due to unhygienic conditions, he explained.

Designed and developed by Mr Rao, for which a patent has been applied for, the ‘solar powered solar air dryer’ is useful in retaining the essence of agri-horticultural produces. Newly developed solar dryer has an electrical backup allowing to use even during the rainy season, which is the time for processing of gum karaya, mushrooms, vegetables, seafoods.

This technology will enable the cottage and trading industry in the villages to export to Europe, West Asia and South-East Asian countries. Nearly 15 crore business in earned through manufacturing mango bars in Kakinada district with the use of portable solar powered solar dryers, Mr Rao added.