Overview of Solar Air Drying Systems in India and His Vision of Future Developments

Solar Air Drying is one of the oldest method of food preservation. For several thousand years people have been preserving grapes, herbs, Potato’s, corn, milk, fruits, vegetables, spices, meat and fish by drying. Until canning was developed at the end of the 18^th century, drying was virtually the only method of food preservation. It is still the most widely used method. Solar Drying is an excellent way to preserve food and solar food dryers are an appropriate food preservation technology for a sustainable world. This technology makes it possible to dehydrate and preserve food professionally without compromising on quality, color, texture, enzymes, vitamins, taste and nutritional values of foods in the process. Food scientists have found that by reducing the moisture content of food to between 10 and 20%, bacteria, yeast, mold and enzymes are all prevented from spoiling it. India is blessed with an abundance of sunlight, water and biomass. Vigorous efforts during the past two decades are now bearing fruit as people in all walks of life are more aware of the benefits of renewable energy, especially solar energy in villages and in urban or semi-urban centers of India. Industries that can benefit from application of solar energy to heat air are Food, Textiles, Dairies, Pharma and Chemical. This paper reviews the present scenario of Solar Air Dryer and strategies for future developments in India.