FARMERS' PROSPERITY THROUGH SOLAR DRYING OF DATES

Abstract

Drying is an essential process in the preservation of agricultural products. Various drying methods are employed to dry different agricultural products. Each method has its own advantages and limitations. Choosing the right drying system is thus important in the process of drying agricultural products. Care must be taken in choosing the drying system. Study comparing traditional drying and other drying methods for the reduction of the drying time and to a significant improvement of the product quality in term so color texture and taste. Drying reduces the possibilities of the contamination by insects and microorganisms so that product is prevented. An experimental study was performed to determine the drying characteristics of dates halves using hot air dryer, solar dryer and open sun drying methods. The date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera) are as a food of high energy value. It is very popular both nationally and internationally. Date fruits are perishable fruit crop grown in coastal region of kutchh of Gujarat state. The date fruits are harvested at ripening stage so the fresh fruits have not longer shelf life. The date halves were dried under hot air flow dryer at temperature level of 50, 60 and 70oC under pre-treatment of blanching and un-blanching. The rate of moisture of blanched sample should only 7.5 % reduction at 54hr drying period while un blanched sample should 13.9 % reduction at 102 hr. In case of date halves drying, the constant weight of sample was achieved at 56 h of drying period in solar cabinet dryer as compared to 320 h for open sun drying. The moisture content was reduced from 69.5 to 8.7 % (w.b.) under solar cabinet dryer for drying of 56 h, while the moisture content was reduce 69.5 to 12.3 % (w.b.) under open sun drying for drying period of 320 h. It was found that the highest moisture removal was 67% for the drying time of 54 h. under hot air flow dryer at 70 oC while minimum moisture removal was 63.6 % for drying time of 320 h. under open sun drying method. In hot air flow drying method, the drying rate for date halves was found to be 32.54, 46.37 and 62.03 g/h at temperature level of 50, 60 and 70 oC respectively for blanched samples, while it was 31.56, 45.53 and 60.93g/h at same temperature levels for unblanched samples.