Solar dryers, developed by the Kochi-based Kraftwork Solar, are getting good response from overseas, thanks to its increased usage in the value-addition of dried fruits, vegetables, spices and medicinal plants.

As many as seven solar dryers have already been exported to Afghanistan and Latin America and there are enquiries from the US, West Indies, West Asia and Africa for its usage in various commercial and industrial applications, said KN Iyer, the company’s Managing Director.

Solar drying, he said, is superior because of the better quality, colour and hygiene compared to open drying which will not be hygienic and the possibilities of getting more ultra violet radiations is on the higher side. Fish, mushroom, and all other agricultural products can be dried and preserved through solar drying at a temperature less than 60 degree centigrade.

Identifying the potential in this segment, he said the company has indigenously developed several models in various capacities and the initial R&D work was jointly done with the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) for developing few models of solar fish dryer.

The company has also installed more than 50 driers in various parts of the country. Kraftwork is currently working on an R&D project for developing high temperature drying (above 60 degree centigrade) and the cooling chamber by using solar energy. Both these will give further boost to the usage of solar energy for preservation of food products, he added.

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