Abstract

Globalization has adversely affected development of rural areas in developing countries. Rural areas are unable to absorb new technologies due to low literacy rates. Local Products, mostly from agricultural produces, are increasingly replaced by cheaper products from organized mechanized farming from one or the other corner of the globe. In this paper, family type cabinet solar dryer designs are presented in commensuration with the contemporary requirement of rural Bihar. Design objective includes simplification of technology and process, easy maintenance and low price to dry exotic produces which has significant export potential. Field trials are conducted, social surveys are undertaken and nutritional values of the products are determined in actual condition. Results indicate that simpler technology with state-of-art control of temperature by a combination of high heat capacity material and phase change material is most suitable to dry vegetables and spices, commonly called “Cash Crops”. Their nutritional values remain within 80% limits even after six months. The technology is appropriate as it uses local materials; sustainable as it is cost-effective and employment generating ability and; robust as it uses very simple way for controlled drying.

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