Centre for Energy, Environment and Sustainable DevelopmentCEESD Ghana
Centre for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development
CEESD engineers have been urged
to double-up its research and development capacity in solar thermal
applications including solar crop dryers, water heaters, and stills. The
call was made by the Deputy Minister of food and agriculture, Hon. Nii
Amasah Namoale, when he visited the exhibition stand of CEESD engineers,
also members of Energy Research Group of Kumasi Polytechnic,
during the 3rd National Food and Agricultural show (FAGRO 2011)
in Accra. Since its inception three years ago, FAGRO has created a
sustainable platform in commercializing agriculture. FAGRO has contributed
to increased awareness on the technological importance of agriculture as
well as the development of competent and assertive agricultural leadership
in order to make the sector more vibrant. The theme for FAGRO 2011 –
Beginning with the end in mind, the value chain development approach –
highlights the importance of addressing bottlenecks and constraints that
challenge the commodity value chain.
CEESD engineers decided to take
part in FAGRO 2011 owing to the immense opportunities such forums bring to
participants. FAGRO 2011 created the platform for the exhibition of
innovative designs of solar crop dryers and solar water stills. Other
exhibits demonstrated include a biochar reactor, and a biochar briquette
which was developed in conjunction with the Technology Consultancy Centre of
KNUST.
Solar crop dryers are noted for
improving the effectiveness of traditional sun drying of agricultural
produce by reducing the dangers of incomplete drying by sudden rainfalls and
high humidity, reducing time and workload taken to dry crops, reducing the
noxious effects caused by dust, dirt and insect infestation, and producing a
more evenly dried product of higher quality. It was no wonder lots of
farmers expressed interest to own solar dryers for use in their farmers.
CEESD engineers agreed to offer free support to farmers by training them in
the design and construction of simple industrial scale dryers for the drying
of their produce using locally available materials.
Visibly impressed with the
innovative products displayed encouraged CEESD engineers to device sound
marketing strategies in order to commercialize the products. Others made
requests to CEESD engineers to visit their farms and to assist them to
develop and apply sustainable technologies for reducing post-harvest losses
at their farms. It was obvious that solar crop dryers need to be promoted on
a large scale if post-harvest losses are to be reduced in Ghana. The
uncertainties in weather patterns pose a major threat to farmers as far as
drying of farm produce are concerned. Solar dryers are appropriate
technologies for adapting to the scourge of climate change in farming
communities in Ghana. It is also suitable for use in the home.