Solar dryer standards soon to cut crop loss

In a first, the Indian government is drafting a national testing standard for solar tunnel dryers—renewable energy-powered machines used to dry farm produce.

- Dhirendra Kumar

The move to standardize these machines aims to curb post-harvest losses, boost farm-level value-addition and help farmers get better returns by storing crucial crops for longer.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is leading the initiative to regulate the design, material quality, energy efficiency and the overall performance of solar tunnel dryers.