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Design and Construction of Efficient and Cost-Effective Solar Dryers for Low and Medium-Size Farmers and Food Processing Enterprises in Rwanda

Open-air sun drying is one of the oldest methods for preserving agricultural products. But this method has many limitations including: the dependence on ambient conditions and being prone to contamination by dust, rain, wind, pests, and rodents; and the cost of a standby manpower for transportation in case of interruption by changes in weather conditions. Reviews have shown that poor infrastructure for storage, processing and marketing in many countries results to a high proportion of waste, which average between 10 and 40 % and can reach 30 % in Rwanda. Due to the rise of fuel prices, depletion of fossil fuels, and the issue of air pollution; the use of modern drying technologies is not economical for drying agricultural product. We propose a research to promote in-house solar drying technologies as an eco-friendly method to reduce postharvest losses, improve the quality of dried food, and minimize the cost of postharvest processing in Rwanda. 

Solar dryers are simple boxes working under the greenhouse effect. Nevertheless, for decades, this technology has been relying on empirical and artisanal knowledge. As results, the large scale deployment of the technology has only been successful in countries where the try-and-error method can work; where the cost of essential materials is very low or enough design data are already available. To have the technology adopted in Rwanda, scientific understanding of the process should lead to optimized designs with high efficiency, low cost, and durable; customized for a specific region in the country and for a specific crop product. This project intends to put together efforts from a diverse team to combine the study of the physics of solar energy collection, the process of humidity reduction in the crop, the effect on food nutriment, and the strength and durability of alternative material used; to propose the appropriate designs for specific applications in various regions across Rwanda. 

A team from ULK Polytechnic institute, made of investigators from Science and Engineering background, are collaborating with food science and postharvest expert from postharvest Plus Ltd, a global expert in postharvest handling, and a local food processing company in the project. They are working together to propose solutions for the issues hindering the use of the technology including the high capital investment, long payback period and lack of confidence in the technology. It is expected that at the end of the project implementation, an academic and business platform will have been built to provide cost-effective, efficient, and good quality designs; and construction works for customized solar dryers. Through the project, prototypes are constructed in Bugesera ant the Health is wealth facility and at Gisozi on ULK premises. Design simulation App are developed in COMSOL Multiphysics software to easy the design process.

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NDIKUMANA VenusteSep 18No Comments

ULK POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE WINS RWANDA’S NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (NCST) RESEARCH GRANT TO REVOLUTIONIZE SOLAR DRYING FOR RWANDAN FARMERS

In a groundbreaking achievement, ULK Polytechnic Institute has been awarded a significant research grant by the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) to spearhead a project titled “Design and Construction of Efficient and Cost-Effective Solar Dryers for Low and Medium-Size Farmers and Food Processing Enterprises in Rwanda.” The research grant, numbered NCST-NRIF WIS-R&D 07 /004/2022, amounts to Frw 90,000,000 and is set to unfold over a three-year period.

The research project aims to address the challenges associated with traditional open-air sun drying methods, which are prevalent in Rwanda. These methods are hindered by their dependency on ambient conditions, susceptibility to contamination, and the need for standby manpower to intervene in changing weather conditions. The initiative seeks to introduce in-house solar drying technologies as an eco-friendly solution to reduce postharvest losses, enhance the quality of dried food, and cut down on the cost of postharvest processing.

 

ULK Polytechnic Institute, in collaboration with postharvest experts from Postharvest Plus Ltd and a local food processing company, plans to study the physics of solar energy collection, humidity reduction in crops, and the impact on food nutrients. The research team, led by Principal Investigator Eng. Mukeshimana Annoncée, will employ design simulation and optimization using software tools such as COMSOL Multiphysics. Drying conditions data will be collected across different locations in Rwanda to propose customized and efficient designs for specific applications.

 

Upon completion of the project, the team anticipates establishing an academic and business platform that provides cost-effective, efficient, and high-quality designs and constructions of customized solar dryers. The outcomes include construction demonstrations across the country, a regional database of design parameters, and the development of a design simulation app to streamline the design process.

Research Team:

Eng. Mukeshimana Annoncee serves as the Principal Investigator, leading a diverse team comprising Co-Principal Investigators Dr. Habimana Jean Willy, Eng. Karikurubu Emmanuel, Ms. Nyirahafashimana Valentine, and Mr. Amani Manzi Alain. Collaborators include experts from Post-Harvest Plus Ltd, the Postharvest Education Foundation (PEF), and Health is Wealth Ltd, contributing their knowledge and expertise to ensure the success of the project.

 

The research team expressed gratitude to NCST for organizing the contest and recognized the importance of promoting women in research. As the project progresses, regular updates and physical meetings, including a recent one at NCST Office, demonstrate the commitment of ULK Polytechnic Institute and NCST to collaboratively advancing the research and implementation of solar drying technologies in Rwanda.

 

This research project stands as a testament to the institution’s commitment to scientific innovation, environmental sustainability, and contributing to the socio-economic development of Rwanda.

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NDIKUMANA VenusteNov 27No Comments

ULK POLYTECHNIC STAFF TRAINED ON COMPETENCE BASED CURRICULUM

With Rwanda’s education sector taking new shape, all academic institutions are required to teach their learners and make sure they finish their studies being competent to practically demonstrate what they acquired from class. This is what the Ministry of Education in Rwanda urges academic institutions to be doing. Aware of this, ULK Polytechnic Institute hosted training sessions on Competence Based Curriculum(CBC). The training sessions kick-started on 15th April, 2022.

Since these educational techniques entirely fall in the field of education, Mr. SIBOMANA Alphonse, a Master’s holder in Education, was at the forefront of the training to make sure all concepts related to these techniques are clearly internalized.

As SIBOMANA said, Curriculum is a total guided learning experiences designed to facilitate learning by establishing quality relationship between what is learnt and what operates outside the school. In other words, if learning cannot play a role in sorting out problems impinging on the outside society, then that learning is a failure. This calls for teachers to combine efforts and train their learners and make them competent players who will solve socio-economic problems and many others upon leaving their schools.

SIBOMANA also expounded that there is a big difference between Knowledge Based Curriculum and Competence based Curriculum in that the former involves active learning, learners build new knowledge from prior knowledge and it focuses on what learners can do and apply in different situations. Whereas, the latter is lecture based, the teacher provides subject content concepts and the teacher focuses on content and what learners can know and memorize rather than what they can do.

The training came in handy as all lecturers teaching at ULK Polytechnic Institute did not do education as a specialization. Also, this new way of teaching sounds very innovative as it is geared towards learner’s ability to do something. Given this, the training climaxed in lecturers’ vow to be training learners and equip them with the competence they need to create things.

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titijadoMay 16No Comments