The Department of Agri Marketing and Agri Business has proposed to introduce solar dryers for the benefit of chilli-growing farmers in Ramanathapuram district.
A proposal has been sent to the Managing Director of Project Unit, a World Bank consultant, to set up the dryers in select blocks in the district.
Disclosing the above at the farmers’ grievance day meeting held at the Collectorate on Friday, the official said that the proposal involved setting up solar dryers, each costing about Rs 10 lakh, and “solar dryer centres” with storage and compound wall facilities at a cost of Rs 70 lakh in the blocks of Mudukalathur, Paramakudi and Kamudhi.
The solar dryers are being set up under the Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Bodies Restoration and Management project and once the funds are received, works will be taken up.