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Solar Drying: an Effective Means of Food Preservation

M. Akhtaruzzaman
Assistant Professor
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The objective of food preservation is to save the food from spoilage due to growth of microorganisms and the action of enzymes. Drying is an accepted means of food preservation even in industria-lized countries. Sun drying is traditionally used in Bangladesh for drying cereal grains, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fish etc. This method is very slow, inadequate and inefficient due to humid climate that exists in the country. The use of solar dryers can effectively solve the drying problems of the farmers by improving upon the traditional method. A low cost solar dryer has been developed and the techniques of preserving various foods and agricultural items using this dryer have been established. Performance testing and field trials by selected farmers indicated the effectiveness and acceptability of these techniques. This piece of appropriate technology is ready to be extended to the rural farmers of Bangladesh.

Keywords: Save the food, Spoilage, Microorganisms, Action of enzymes.

Location: Noakhali, Maijdi Court, and Dhaka, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Drier

Objectives:

To save the food from spoilage due to growth of microorganisms and the action of enzymes.

Methodology:

Pretreatment of food prior to drying are important to maintain or improve the quality of the dried products. A complete simple process of food preservation by drying Includes the following operations 1. Grading and sorting for size. maturity and soundness 2. Washing, especially of fruits and vegetables 3. Peeling of fruits and vegetables by hand, machine. lye bath or abrasion 4. Reduction in size; subdivision Into halves, slices, shreds or cubes 5. Alkali and acid dips which are used primarily for fruits 6. Blanching or scalding of vegetables and some fruits 7. Sulfuring of light colored fruits and of certain vegetables. The maximum temperatures inside the dryers in mid-days were observed to vary from 37 to 68 deg. C with average temperature rise of 8 to 22 deg. C depending on the climatic conditions. The temperature developed in the dryer was adequate rather than excessive for fruits and vegetables. The drying rates in the solar dryer were 2 to 43 percent higher than the rates in the open floor, depending on the kind of material and the climatic conditions. The dryer was found suitable for almost every kind of crop such as cereal grains, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruits and vegetables. The dryer was useful for fish also.The farmers after using the dryers have passed the following opinions: 1. The solar dryers could be built by the farmers themselves using locally available materials. 2. The quality of the solar-dried products were better than those dried under the open sun. 3. The farmers would get better price for some of the solar-dried products. 4. There were no losses due to birds, animals, rain and wind. 5. This home-appliance type dryer could be used to dry almost every kind of crop. 6. The capacity of the dryer was reasonably good. A 240 cm x 120 cm dryer was found to hold 2.5 to 20 kg depending on the kind of crop. 7. The drying rate was faster than that of open sun drying. 8. The cost of the dryer was not so high. The bamboo-made dryer costs about Tk. 460 00 including labour for construction. The dryer has great potential for application on commercial basis. The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has been working on developing a suitable system for processing and marketing of grated coconut, potato chips and fish using this solar dryer. About 30 female producers are now engaged in producing solar-dried coconut at Ramgonj, Noakhali. MOO promotes and sells dried coconut through its marketing Centre in Dhaka. A pilot plant has been established at Maijdi Court, Noakhali for producing solar-dried potato chips. There is a steady demand of this product from hotels and restaurants. MCC has established another pilot plant at Char Bungshi, Noakhali for solar drying of fish. These projects have appeared to be viable (Bergen et al., 1985). But the success of these projects depends on the good promotion activities and salesmanship through well-organised infrastructure.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education; Vol. 2., No. 1. January 1987

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

A low-cost solar dryer has been developed and the techniques of preserving various foods and agricultural items using this dryer have been established. Performance testing and field trials indicated the effectiveness and acceptability of those techniques. The use of solar dryers reduced the drying time and improved the quality of he dried products. This piece of appropriate technology is ready to be extended to the rural farmers of Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal