How it works

Clean-energy value addition close to the community

Solar drying hubs connect renewable energy with food preservation, training, and income pathways for farmers, youth, and women-led enterprises.

  • Identify crops, fish, and produce with high post-harvest loss risk.
  • Install or pilot solar dryers with hygiene and handling routines.
  • Train groups on drying, storage, packaging, and basic quality control.
  • Track dried volumes, quality, sales, and income changes.
Solar drying trays with fruits, vegetables, fish, and packaged produce

Primary hub: Clean Energy and Water Infrastructure Hub

Value addition

Solar drying hubs

Solar drying systems for maize, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and fish to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market value.

Discuss this projectBack to projects
Loss reduction

Protect harvest value

Drying helps communities preserve produce that would otherwise spoil after harvest.

Clean energy

Solar-powered processing

Renewable energy lowers drying costs and supports safer preservation.

Skills

Hygiene and packaging

Training covers hygiene, drying standards, packaging, storage, and marketing.

Enterprise

Better market readiness

Tracked volumes, quality, and income changes help groups build reliable value-addition models.

Core components

  • Solar dryers and drying trays
  • Food hygiene and handling routines
  • Packaging and storage training
  • Product quality records
  • Market-readiness support
  • Income and volume tracking

Who can use it

  • Farmers and producer groups
  • Fish farming groups
  • Women and youth enterprises
  • Schools and training sites
  • Food security projects

Impact logic

Less waste, better shelf life, and stronger incomes

The project helps communities turn perishable harvests into products with longer shelf life and better market potential.

Select

Choose products

Maize, vegetables, fruits, herbs, fish, or local priority products.

Dry

Preserve safely

Solar drying, hygiene, storage, and packaging routines.

Sell

Build value

Track quality, volumes, market channels, and income.

Project partnership

Use Solar drying hubs as a demonstration site, research pilot, or funded community support model

Partner on this project