Solar Tunnels For Food Processing – Mozambique

This project has introduced solar tunnel dryers to farming communities in Mozambique. It is also working to mobilize conservation farming techniques, promote improved health and sanitation practices, and empower income generation for families. This pilot project is hoped to improve food security for the communities.

Fast facts:

6 tunnels tried with various farmers’ clubs;
300 direct beneficiaries;
2,245 indirect beneficiaries.

The problem

Preservation of crops post-harvest is difficult, and crops usually must be consumed or sold at market almost immediately after harvesting. This means that large amounts of harvested food ends up being thrown away. The traditional drying process in Mozambique consists of leaving food in the sun, making it vulnerable to animals and insects.

Mozambique’s poverty rate is nearly 50% in the north of the country. The population is vulnerable to climate shocks such as floods, cyclones, and droughts, which decrease agricultural productivity even further. Furthermore, trade practices there have been disrupted due to dramatic increases in international food and fuel prices, as well as the HIV epidemic. All of these factors are contributing to food insecurity.

The solution

This initiative provided a means to safely and effectively dry excess food crops for locals to consume and sell outside of harvest season. Solar tunnel dryers made from bamboo and plastic preserve foodstuffs that could otherwise spoil. The structures are built using local labor to provide a dry, clean harvest of solar energy. Women receive training in drying techniques and basic business management skills, then run and manage the dryers through farmers’ clubs on behalf of the communities, and train new users. This ensures ongoing sustainability of the dryers’ use.

The solar tunnel dryers are significantly more efficient and hygienic than traditional methods. Vegetables take between 24 and 48 hours to dry, while fruits, tubers, and legumes take from three to five days. The tunnels provide a clean, dust-free environment for drying, and the shelf-life of the food is increased to three to four months.

Helping the planet

Using a naturally occurring energy source – the sun – to process crops displaces the need for fossil fuel-sourced energy, thus mitigating pollution including of greenhouse gases.

Helping people

This project contributes to food security in communities who need it most. Families may keep the food for consumption, or sell it at market during the dry season. The initiative not only provides access to much-needed nutrition, but also to additional sources of income along with job creation. It has also promoted education on nutrition, climate change, and ways to utilize food that would otherwise go to waste. Women in particular are empowered through the project, which has led to higher food security and reduced seasonal malnutrition.

Spillover effect

The dryers have been well-received by community members and there is increasing demand for the product, particularly in the dry season. This project is simple and thus reliable. Initial capital, operating, and maintenance costs of the solar tunnels are remarkably low, yet output is markedly higher and more efficient than existing drying techniques. Organizations involved such as Wisions collaborate with partners including farmers’ clubs and vocational schools in other developing countries. The intention is to adapt and replicate this model as much as possible throughout operations, given its low investment costs, environmentally friendly approach, and potentially high impact.