Micro-enterprises in solar food processed products

The development of Solar Food Processing Technology in the country has facilitated an economic activity in rural areas. With advent of novel Solar cabinet dryer of ‘SEED”, solar dehydration process of fruits, vegetables, spices, forest produce etc. has become commercially viable for income generation and job opportunities to rural women. The Society for Energy, Environment & Development (SEED) has promoted microenterprises in solar food processing centres through local NGOs for processing the fruit bars. In these centers, ‘SEED’ has installed the dryers, offered training to the local women in processing the products, tested the products for their quality in its laboratory and also assisted in marketing of these products. The cost economics of processing centers are shown as economically viable proposition.

This experimental model is presented in this paper for replication in other States in the country.