Techno-Economic analysis of CAZRI Solar Dryer
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v92i4.123976Keywords:
Apricot, Business and Economics, Farmer income, Ladakh, Solar dryerAbstract
Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is one of the major horticultural produce and an important source of income as well as livelihood in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and North-eastern part of India. However, it is also full of nutritional and functional health benefits. Despite all the advantages associated with the fruit, shorter shelf life is major hindrance in attaining its potential economic benefit to the farmers. Apricot drying is most common in these regions t raditionally done by the farmers. Solar dryer developed by ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) at its regional station, Leh is helping in extending shelf life of apricot and its availability throughout the year. This study was carried out during 2017–19 aimed to estimate the techno-economic benefit on adoption of the dryer by individual farmer or processor. It is found that adopter need to make investment of `1.10 lakh in fixed capital and requires `1.22 lakh annually to process one metric tonnes of the fruit. The annual cost of production was determined as `133,000 with depreciation of `11,000 for project of 1 metric tonne fresh fruit. Estimates indicate that adopter could generate net income of `78,000 annually. Profitability analysis yielded net profit ratio, pay-back period, benefit-cost ratio and break-even point of 37%, 1.23 years, 1.52, and 123.50 kg, respectively.
Downloads
References
Barnwal P and Tiwari G N. 2008. Grape drying by using hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) greenhouse dryer: an experimental study. Solar energy 82(12): 1131–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2008.05.012
Gupta A, Sharma P C, Tilakratne B M K S and Verma A K. 2012. Studies on physico-chemical characteristics and fatty acid composition of wild apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernel oil. Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources 3(3): 366–70.
Hossain M A, Woods J L and Bala B K. 2005. Optimisation of solar tunnel drier for drying of chilli without color loss. Renewable Energy 30(5): 729–42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2004.01.005
Incedayi B, Tamer C E, Sinir G O, Suna S and Copur O U. 2016. Impact of different drying parameters on color, β-carotene, antioxidant activity and minerals of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.). Food Science and Technology 36(1): 171–78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-457X.0086
Kangotra A and Chauhan S K. 2014. Economic viability of button mushroom cultivation in Himachal Pradesh, India. Indian Journal of Agricultural Research 48(2):134–39. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5958/j.0976-058X.48.2.022
Kate A E, Lohani U C, Pandey J P, Shahi N C and Sarkar A. 2014. Traditional and mechanical method of the oil extraction from wild apricot kernel: a comparative study. Research Journal of Chemical and Environmental Sciences 2(2): 54–60.
Kumar N, Malik D P and Kumar R. 2019. An economic analysis of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivation in Haryana. Indian Journal of Economics and Development 15(2): 282–88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5958/2322-0430.2019.00034.9
Panwar N L, Kothari S and Kaushik S C. 2014. Cost-benefit and systems analysis of passively ventilated solar greenhouses for food production in arid and semi-arid regions. Environment Systems and Decisions 34(1): 160–67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-013-9438-5
Poonia S, Singh A K, Santra P and Jain D. 2017. Performance evaluation and cost economics of a low cost solar dryer of ber (Zizyphus mauritiana) fruit. Agricultural Engineering Today 41(1): 25–30.
Poonia S, Singh A K, Santra P and Jain D. 2019a. Development and performance evaluation of high insulation box type solar cooker. Agricultural Engineering Today 43(1): 1–10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52151/aet2019431.1490
Poonia S, Singh A K, Santra P and Jain D. 2019b. Economic analysis of inclined solar dryer for drying of fruit and vegetables. International Journal of Agriculture Sciences 11(20): 9154–59.
Prakash O, Jain D, Nikumbhe P H, Srivastava S and Raghuvanshi M S. 2020. Significance, status and scope of apricot in India: a review. International Journal of Chemical Studies SP-8(6): 05–11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/chemi.2020.v8.i6a.10817
Purohit P, Kumar A and Kandpal T C. 2006. Solar drying vs. open sun drying: A framework for financial evaluation. Solar Energy 80(12): 1568–79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2005.12.009
Rymbai D, Singh R, Feroze S M and Bardoloi R. 2012. Benefit-cost ratio analysis of pineapple orchard in Meghalaya. Indian Journal of Hill Farming 25(1): 9–12.
Sathiadhas R, Najmudeen T M and Prathap S. 2009. Break-even analysis and profitability of aquaculture practices in India. Asian Fisheries Science 22: 667–80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33997/j.afs.2009.22.2.028
Sharma A, Chen C R and Lan N V. 2009. Solar-energy drying systems: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 13(6-7): 1185–210. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2008.08.015
Singh A K, Poonia S, Jain D, Mishra D and Singh R K. 2020. Economic evaluation of a business model of selected solar thermal devices in Thar desert of Rajasthan, India. Agricultural Engineering Unternational: The CIGR Journal 22(3): 129–37.
Targais K, Stobdan T, Yadav A, Singh S B. 2011. Extraction of apricot kernel oil in cold desert Ladakh, India. Indian journal of traditional knowledge. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 10(2): 304–06.
Yigit D, Yigit N and Mavi A. 2009. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of bitter and sweet apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 42(4): 346–52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X2009000400006
Zamalloa C, Vulsteke E, Albrecht, J. and Verstraete W. 2011. The techno-economic potential of renewable energy through the anaerobic digestion of microalgae. Bioresource Technology 102: 1149–58. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.09.017
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
The copyright of the articles published in The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences is vested with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, which reserves the right to enter into any agreement with any organization in India or abroad, for reprography, photocopying, storage and dissemination of information. The Council has no objection to using the material, provided the information is not being utilized for commercial purposes and wherever the information is being used, proper credit is given to ICAR.
How to Cite
