A budget-friendly solar drying technique developed using locally available materials has helped around 500 farmers in Nagaland reduce post-harvest losses and increase their incomes by 30–40 per cent, highlighting the growing role of frugal solar innovation in rural agriculture.
India loses agricultural produce worth nearly ₹1.53 trillion every year due to poor storage, handling and lack of cold-chain infrastructure. Fruits and vegetables account for a major share of this loss, with nearly 40 per cent of food produced in the country wasted annually. Limited electricity access and unpredictable weather further compound the problem for small farmers, particularly in hilly and remote regions.
Solar Innovation Designed for Local Conditions
The solution emerged in Nagaland’s Phek district, where 26-year-old innovator Swuyievezo Dzudo developed a low-cost solar food dryer to address routine crop spoilage faced by local farmers. Traditional open sun-drying often exposed produce to rain, pests and dust, while commercial dryers were unaffordable for most smallholders.
Dzudo’s solar dryer is built using bamboo, scrap wood, recycled aluminium cans, UV sheets and small solar panels. A basic five-foot unit costs about ₹7,000, while larger community units range between ₹25,000 and ₹30,000, significantly lower than industrial alternatives. Each unit can dry 50–100 kg of produce within two to three days without using grid electricity.
By mid-2025, more than 25 such dryers had been installed across five villages, benefiting nearly 500 farmers.
Higher Returns and New Livelihood Opportunities
The design uses aluminium cans as heat accumulators to retain warmth, UV sheets to protect produce, and small solar-powered fans to ensure continuous airflow. This has enabled farmers to dry kiwi, turmeric, chillies and medicinal plants efficiently and store them for months.
Farmers reported that dried produce fetched better prices in markets and could be sold long after harvest, leading to income gains of up to 40 per cent. The technology has also opened up opportunities for local employment, as villagers are trained to build, maintain and operate the dryers.
Community drying hubs, local assembly units and small processing enterprises have emerged as a result, creating jobs beyond farming and strengthening rural value chains.
Environmental and Food Security Benefits
Apart from economic gains, the solar dryers contribute to environmental sustainability by operating entirely on renewable energy, reducing food waste and eliminating the need for chemical preservatives. The use of recycled materials further lowers environmental impact.
Experts say such frugal solar innovations demonstrate how locally designed solutions can address post-harvest losses, improve food security and build climate resilience among smallholder farmers. As these models scale up, they could play a significant role in strengthening India’s agricultural economy while supporting sustainable rural development.