SEED COMMUNICATIONSA Quarterly News Letter from

Society For Energy, Environment & Development

®

Volume : 2 No : 3

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS

FROM THE DESK OF EDITORJuly - September, 2015

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Introduction: Forests are the vital sources

of livelihood support system for tribal people

of Andhra Pradesh. The Minor Forest

Produce (MFP) has been traditionally

sustaining the tribal economy significantly.

Tribals collect forest produce like roots,

fruits, gum, tamarind, tannins, fibre etc.

These products also become raw materials

for preparation of variety of household

products and hence have high demand.

Significant addition to the income of the tribal farmers can be made if

economically feasible and tribal-friendly value addition processing methods

are developed and popularized among them. With this intention, an attempt

has been made at ICAR- CTRI through an innovative technology of solar

drying and food processing of Minor Forest Produce(MFP) viz., Amla, mango,

papaya and herbal powders under the DBT funded project entitled 'Nutritional

Security in Tribal Areas of East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh through

Community Based Approaches'.

Prof. P. N. Murty

Chief Editor

Prof. M. Ramakrishna Rao

Executive Editor

Mrs. R. Shyamala

Convener

Dr. I. Suresh Dr. Ms. Mehtab S. Bhamji

SOLAR DRYING TECHNOLOGY FOR

TRIBAL WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD IN A.P.

Dr. K. Suman Kalyani, Principal Scientist

ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute, Rajahmundry – 533105

Open drying vs Solar drying: Since ancient times, natural sun light and heat

have been utilized by tribals to preserve food products by open drying.

Prolonged drying period and contact with ultraviolet light (UV) could degrade

some valuable phyto-chemicals and vitamins viz., chlorophyll, essential oil, ?-

carotene and ascorbic acid in open drying. Solar drying carried out in a closed

environment enables products free of contamination and less nutritional

degradation to the product. Nevertheless, use of proper solar dryer and pre-

treatment of raw materials are essential to produce products of good

organoleptic and nutritional quality. The drying rate of the product is important

as it influences the physical and chemical changes. Hygienic processing

protects the nutritional value and prevents unwanted contamination.

Solar drying of different value added products: Solar drying at optimum

temperatures and in a shorter time enables good retention of most of the

nutrients. There is practically no loss of essential nutrients except in sensitive

vitamins like Vitamin C. We can get nearly 30-35% of

SEED COMMUNICATIONSA Quarterly News Letter

Defence Research and

Development Organization

(DRDO) has awarded a three

year research project on

"Formulation and Evaluation

of Enriched Nutri t ional

Supplements through the

use of Solar Food Processing

Technology to Combat

Fatigue and Environmental Stress in Service Personnel". This is

collaborative project between SEED and Defence Food Research

Laboratories, Mysore. Primary objectives of the project are, to develop

Nutritional Supplements, to evaluate the developed product in animals for

its performance enhancement property and to conduct field trials of the

products with human subjects. Implication of the project is to develop

environmentally sustainable natural food supplements for wellness of the

armed personnel. This will be achieved through minimizing consumption

of conventional energy such as electricity which is known to contribute

towards carbon emission and global warming, development of

technologies that would help in development of products, that are clean,

hygienic and microbiologically safe during storage and transfer the

technology to the villages to set up Solar Food Processing Centers to

manufacture the products.

2 Volume : 2 No :3 July-September, 2015

From Page No. 1

SOLAR DRYING TECHNOLOGY for Tribal Women Empowerment……

“Very impressive, hopefully we can take it forward in a sustainable manner.”

Mrs. Mrinalini Shastry, Director, Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Govt. of A.P.

VIP COMMENTS

and vegetables solar drying process helps in better retention of color, and

flavour. The dried products are equally good and deliver significant levels of

vitamins, minerals and fiber compared to fresh produce.

A group of tribal women from local SHGs were selected from the adopted

villages viz., Devarapalli, Sunnampadu, Maredumilli, Seethapalli, Irlapalli of

Maredumilli & Rampachodavara Mandals of East Godavari district. These

SHGs were trained and upgraded their skills in preparation of the value

added solar dried products viz., amla powder, amla candy, amla ginger,

amla supari, tooty fruity (papaya) mango jelly and herbal powders. Thus the

solar drying technology forms a means of tribal women empowerment of

East Godavari district by enhancing their family income.

Cost economics: Through this activity, about 10 tribal women were able to

prepare and sell the value added products to the open markets and

shandys. The entire group gets benefited @ Rs. 50,000/- p.m. for a group of

10 women, thus each women gets around Rs.5,000/- per month. The benefit

cost ratio was found to be 1.66. Thus the solar drying technology forms a

means of tribal women empowerment of East Godavari district by

enhancing their family income.

Experience with SEED- A Success Story: Society for energy,

Environment & Development (SEED) has supplied solar dryers and offered

training programmes for the project staff on solar drying techniques. This

training and supply of solar driers has resulted in conducting a number of

training

programmes in East Godavari district for the benefit of tribal and rural

women. This has motivated the women to take up value addition through

solar drying as an entrepreneurial activity. There is still scope to enhance

and widen this entrepreneurship by providing good market facilities to the

value added products. Recently East Godavari district collector and P.O,

ITDA (East Godavari) have visited and appreciated the stalls of solar drying

technology displayed in the Agricultural Exhibition, AP TEC-2015 by ICAR-

CTRI organized in collaboration with Andhra Pradesh Technology

Promotion Centre, Hyderabad from 05.06.2015 to 07.06.2015.

R & D Project awarded by DRDO on

“ Nutritional Supplement for Defence Service Personnel ”

SEED COMMUNICATIONSA Quarterly News Letter

Volume : 2 No :3 July-September, 2015

Activities of the last Quarter

TRAINING PROGRAMMES IN SOLAR DEHYDRATION OF FRUITS

AND VEGETABLES DURING THE LAST QUARTER

Solar dehydration for value addition to fig at SEED, Hyderabad,

Telangana: Training programme on value addition of Fig fruit was

conducted at SEED facility during 1- 4 April. Seven members consisting of

entrepreneurs, farmers and lecturers attended for the training

programme. Theory and practical classes were conducted by the expert

faculty in the field of food processing for the benefit of the participants.

Processing of whole fig fruit, Fig jelly and Fig jam were demonstrated to

the satisfaction of the participants.

Training programme on processing of Fruit bars and Amla Supari was

conducted during 26-27 May, 2015. This programme was exclusively

conducted for Ms.Swarnalatha, Co-ordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra,

Utukur, Kadapa. The KVK, Utukuru is already processing new food

products such as Multi vitamin Atta and have purchased a solar dryer to

carry out training progarmmes for around 800 entrepreneurs in Solar

Food processing technology.

Training Program for trainers from Dr. Bala Saheb Sawant Konkan

Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharashtra in Solar Dehydration of

fruits and vegetables. : On 17th of June Training programme on Solar

Food Processing Technology was conducted exclusively for the faculty of

Dr.B.S.Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Department of Horticulture, Dapoli,

Maharashtra. The training programme was organized on value addition of

vegetables such as Onions, potatoes, tomatoes etc.

Conclusion: The Krishi Vgyan Kendras under the Horticulture

department had identified the Innovative Solar Food Processing

Technology as the livelihood programme for income generation and job

opportunities for the needy.

FUTURE ACTIVITIES

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g First Overseas Training Programme in Zanzibar, Tanzania, East Africa on solar dehydration of fruits and vegetables by SEED

First 'Seed' Training Programme in Abroad: The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Ministry of Empowerment, Social Welfare, Youth, Women

and Children, Zanzibar have entered into Memorandum of Understanding with Society for Energy, Environment & Development (SEED), Hyderabad,

India for exporting Solar Industrial Dryer - SDM-50 and conduct training programme in solar dehydration process of fruits & vegetables in Zanzibar. The

solar dryer was already exported to Zanzibar and the training programme will be conducted during 7-12 July with processing of Fruits (Mango) &

Vegetables (carrot & tomato) including packing, quality control, hygiene, etc. Mrs. R. Shyamala, General Secretary & Executive Director of 'SEED'

will conduct this training programme.

g SERP, Government of Andhra Pradesh Sponsored skills development programme for rural entrepreneurs

Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty, Andhra Pradesh (SERP-AP) is supporting two training programs on solar

possessing of fruits and vegetables and value added products. One of these programs will be conducted to Train-

the-Trainers, which will be attended by government officials implementing the rural development programs. Second

training program will be for the Self Help Groups (SHGs) to empower them to set up and operate solar food

processing enterprises. These 6-day training programmes will be conducted in the 1st week of August 2015.

g Orietation Programme in Solar Dehydration technology for faculty in educational institutions.

One 3-day training program will be conducted in the last week of September on "Post Harvesting Technology for fruits and Vegetables for Sustainable

Livelihood using Solar Energy". This program has been envisaged to empower Food Science & Technology and Nutrition faculty of various collages in

the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the area of sustainable processing of fruits and vegetable for value addition.

g Workshop to Sensitize NGOs on Solar Dried foods for income generation and nutrition security :

SEED will be conducting a workshop in the 1st week of September on "Sensitising NGOs on Solar Food Processing" in association with The Federation

of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTAPCCI). This workshop will focus on sensitising the NGOs working in the

area of food and nutrition on effective and sustainable processing of agricultural and horticultural produces to achieve food and nutrition security in

India.

SEED COMMUNICATIONSA Quarterly News Letter

SOCIETY FOR ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & DEVELOPMENT Plot No. 81, Golden Residency, Road No.7, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad-33, A.P., India. Ph: 040-23608892/23546036, E-mail: seed@seedngo.com website: www.seedngo.com

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Printed At : M/s VAMSI ART PRINTERS, Hyderabad

The world community has acknowledged the

multiple benefits of Solar Energy. Solar

Energy contributes to mitigating green house

gas emissions. It's use has the ability to

enhance energy security and can propel

sustainable development. The applications of

Solar Energy are widespread, ranging from

electricity supply to cooking, drying, heating

etc. Its role in alleviating poverty, reducing

inequality and promoting sustainable development is being acknowledged world

over. Use of Solar Energy applications to improve the conditions and standard of

living for the majority of the population of middle and lower income groups,

especially women from these groups.

Many of the statistical studies on

poverty have proved that majority of

the poor are women and they are

doubly affected by discrimination,

marginalization and poverty.

A s n o d a l a g e n c y f o r n o n -

conventional energy, All India

Women's Conference (AIWC) at the

centre, Hyderabad-Secunderabad

branch at branch level are assuming

centre-stage responsibility in creating

awareness about use of domestic

solar energy technologies since

1984. Through Solar Energy initiatives AIWC is also keenly implementing

programmes on income generation for women from low income groups. One of

the entry points in this effort encourages cooking in solar cookers reducing the

use of bio fuels like LPG and Kerosene, use of Solar Lanterns instead of Kerosene

Lamps, use of solar dryers for the manufacture of Fruit bars, dehydration of herbs,

vegetables as an income generation activity. AIWC organizes demonstration

cum sale of its solar dried products at different places like Schools, Colleges,

Mahila Mandalis and public sector institutions like banks etc. AIWC is also

instrumental in marketing of solar lanterns, solar cookers, dryers and home

lighting systems through out India in collaboration with Ministry of New &

Renewable Energy, PCRA & NREDCAP at national & state levels.

Solar energy is benefiting millions of women in villages by meeting their fuel and

other energy needs in an environment friendly manner. Women have a stake in

the development of solar energy uses, both as consumers as well as producers.

About half of India's rural population does not even have electricity. And only 30%

of women are able to use LPG for meeting their fuel need and among them with

over 50% dependant on fire wood and agricultural residue. Bio-mass production

to meet household energy needs should be facilitated along with providing solar

cookers. Government subsidy should be restored again. Even in urban areas

there is increased demand for solar cookers for domestic cooking needs. Low

interest finance and capital subsidies can make solar energy enterprises more

attractive to them.

There is now need for the

Government to give more emphasis

on gender perspective to energy

policy and programmes. Overall

research shows that not enough

attention is given to the impact of

developmental interventions in

energy planning on women allocation

of funds for supporting women's

entrepreneurship in generating and

use of Solar energy is required

capacity building in manufacture of

products using solar energy by

women should be included in the

energy policy. Solar based food processing technology, for example solar drying,

is becoming popular income generating activity by women. There should be

provision of funding installation and training programmes by the MNRE. Women's

access to renewable energy programmes should be streamlined. There is a need

to enhance investment in women's capacity building in the energy sector by the

Government. The 12th Five Year Plan has zan allocation of Rs.19113 crores in

the renewable energy sector. But there is no specific allocation for women in this

sector. A specific percentage of funds should be allocated by the Government to

fund projects harnessing solar energy for women and by women. Funding should

be made available for demonstration of solar energy technologies by women

NGOs. Emphasis has to be placed on R&D in various areas of solar energy

technologies and application with focus on women's needs

Volume : 2 No :3 July-September, 2015

Women's Role In Harnessing Solar EnergyMrs. Farida Hussain, M.A., Member-in charge Renewable & Sustainable Energy, AIWC, New Delhi

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