STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Dec 5: As part of promoting rural livelihood in food processing sector under the project ‘consultancy service for micro-planning and enhancing livelihood opportunities’ for forest fringe villages of Assam, a low-cost innovative solar dryer was launched by Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, in association with Don Bosco, Azara at IIE Campus, Lalmati on Tuesday.
The dryer uses direct solar heat to dry fruits or vegetables and cut the cost of electricity consumption for drying. The dryer comes with a coat of waterproof antimicrobial no-material which prevents fruits and vegetables inside the dryer from being contamited by the growth of micro organisms. The dryer is capable of generating a stabilized temperature up to 70 degree Celsius which is sufficient to dry normal vegetables and fruits. The unique dyer has been designed by the Centre of Excellence in notechnology of Don Bosco University and jointly developed by IIE and Don Bosco University.
Addressing the public, Director of IIE Manoj Kumar Das said that dried fruits like ba, jackfruit, pineapple, star fruits have huge potential in the domestic and export market. He believes this will give longer shelf life to fruits and vegetables which were otherwise wasted in huge quantities. This will help the forest fringe village community as well as promoting rural entrepreneurship in the state.