DRYING+FRUIT

**PROBLEM STATEMENT**: The hot and arid climate in Kandahar, Afghanistan makes it difficult for rural farmers to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables long enough so that they can transport and sell the produce at market.
 * SOLAR DRYING FRUIT **

**GOAL:** Our group's focus was centered around how to reduce food insecurity. Throughout our investigation, we have discovered multiple practices that will address this problem. Due to feasibility and cost effectiveness, we wish to promote the use of Evap Coolers, but we also hope to provide alternative solutions such as drying or the use of greenhouses, which will accomplish the same goals.


 * What are they doing now: **

Fruit has been dried in Afghanistan for decades. In Kandahar city, the second largest city in Afghanistan, there are actually commercial facilities for drying (3). Therefore, this is not a new concept to the Afghan people.


 * Principles of Drying Fruit: **
 * 1) By removing water from produce, this prevents microorganisms that cause spoilage and could also potentially cause harm to humans from growing (2).
 * 2) There are multiple drying methods, however, the principle of solar drying is likely the most cost effective and efficient for Afghanistan.

(1)


 * __ Opportunity __**

There are technologies that exist that could likely improve rural farmer's solar drying practice.

Solar drying is also an effective way to have calories throughout the lean seasons, when no crops are being

harvested.

**__Why we chose not to look into Solar Drying:__**

Although solar drying is an effective means to preserve fruit for the lean seasons, the group's main focus was to generate revenue and surplus of fresh vegetables and fruit for farmer's and their families.

__**References**__

> >
 * 1) http://www.google.com/imgres?q=solar+dryer+site:edu&hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=1163&bih=621&tbm=isch&tbnid=xdQU2-2R-prHBM:&imgrefurl=http://www.news.appstate.edu/2009/07/09/solar-food-dryers-designed-at-appalachian-preserve-food-worldwide/&docid=uBABGcZ3Sak31M&imgurl=http://www.news.appstate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/SolarFoodDryerAfghanistan.jpg&w=1280&h=960&ei=2RS0ULmtHqmCiwLc2YC4AQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=225&sig=101335364898657690094&page=1&tbnh=141&tbnw=186&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:90&tx=12&ty=58
 * 2) http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/PNW/PNW0397.pdf
 * 3) http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Kandahar.html