Evaluation of coolbot cool room as a low cost storage system for marginal farmers

CoolBot is a device which turns a conventional room air conditioner into a produce cooler. It is a low cost storage system which is highly-insulated room and can be transformed into a walk-in cooler. It is thermostatically controlled and keeps the commodity fresh by cooling it down to 4–5°C. The efficacy of Coolbot cool room was studied using vegetables viz. cauliflower, cabbage, tomato and okra. Different parameters viz. physiological weight loss and visual quality which determines the shelf life and marketability of the produce were studied. A significant variation was recorded in physiological weight loss of all the vegetables under control and cool room conditions. Vegetables stored under cool room conditions showed higher visual sensory score than those stored under ambient conditions. A direct relationship was observed between pulp temperature and physiological weight loss. The study revealed that the Coolbot cool room maintains the low storage temperature and optimum relative humidity thus keeping produce fresh, firm, visually appealing and marketable. Besides it is low cist and therefore, can successfully be used by the famers for storage of their fresh produce to maintain their market quality and to fetch good price from the market even after storage.