Solar Conduction Dryer (SCD)
Type de pratique Reduce
Nom de la pratique Solar Conduction Dryer (SCD)
Nom de l’acteur principal Science For Society
Type d’acteur(s) Institution de recherche
Pays India
Etape de mise en œuvre Transformation
Année de mise en œuvre 2013
Opérations déjà accomplies/en cours A group of Indian graduate students have come-up with a solution that addresses key shortages faced by rural Indians, namely food, electricity and income. They developed a solar conduction dryer which dries-out fruits and vegetables, enabling farmers to preserve and sell the food for a higher price. This solves several problems at once since the technology reduces food spoilage, extends food shelf life and allows nutritional value retention, helping the largely agriculture-dependent Indian population to earn more. Their creation, simply called the Solar Conduction Dryer (SCD), recently won the grand prize at the 2013 Dell Social Innovation Challenge (DSIC), an initiative of the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service at the LBJ School of Public Affairs in the University of Texas. The solar conduction dryer will act as a boon for the farmers and fishermen with poor access to electricity.” The dryer gives them a “revolutionary sustainable technology” that will address the “agrarian crisis” and alleviate their impoverished conditions.
Résultats et impacts Farmers only need to spend on the upfront fee of about US$57 (or 3 500 rupees) for the dryer, and this is quickly recovered once profit is increased through the selling of higher priced preserved fruits and vegetables. The dryer developed is a plain rectangular box that has an internal black surface and clear lid. Farmers simply place the sliced fruits and vegetables on the surface, which dries it using the heat absorbed from the sun. According to the innovators, even illiterate farmers can manage the dryer. And unlike other solar-powered dryers, which are pricey and use the more complex convection heat transfer process, the SCD is 25 per cent more efficient and stores 45 per cent more of the fruits and vegetables’ nutritional value. Currently, the partners have expanded their reach by including women groups as beneficiaries, encouraging them to become self-sufficient entrepreneurs.
