Launch of “Assessment of Solar Drying for Maize to Reduce Postharvest Losses”

Inception Meeting for an R&D Project on Assessment of Solar Drying for Maize to be held from 8 th to 9 th May, 2017The overall objective of this project is to assess the feasibility of solar drying technologies for reducing post-harvest losses in maize in Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique. It is envisaged that the project can lead to reduced grain losses; improved grain quality; and improved farmers’ resilience to the negative effects of climate change.

In order to achieve the objectives of the project, the following activities will be undertaken: adaptation of tunnel solar dryers; fabrication of the adapted tunnel solar dryers; testing the performance of tunnel solar dryers; assessing the effect of solar drying on mycotoxins prevalence in the maize; economic analysis of establishing and operating communal tunnel solar dryers; and knowledge exchange through site visits, dissemination of results and training of various stakeholders

The project is being undertaken in Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique in districts where smallholder farmers substantially grow maize for both food and sale.

In Malawi the project will be conducted in two districts: Dedza in the Central Region and Mzimba in the Northern Region. In each of the 2 district, the project will be implemented at community level from where tunnel solar drying technology will be tested and assessed.

In Zambia the project will be conducted in two districts: Lusaka and Monze. In each of the district, the project will implemented at community level from where tunnel solar drying technology will be tested and assessed.

More details to come.