Poor Harvest Research Articles

Perceived Implication of Climate Change on Fish Farming in Ibarapa Region of Oyo State, Nigeria

The present study revealed the impact of climate change on fish farming business in Ibarapa region, Oyo State Nigeria during January to June 2017. Majority of the respondents were male (93.4%) whereas 6.6% were female. Some of the respondents (25%) have been in fish farming business for about 20 years. Major sources of water were deep well and bore-hole. The various constraints encountered in the course of the business were low water availability (25.0%), feeding cost (20.0%), weather problem (13.3%) and funds (11.7%). On awareness/perception of respondents on climate change, 75% of the farmers were aware of change in the climate phenomenon, which was basically through personal experience (33.2%). The perceived climate change factors are; drastic changes in weather condition (50%), increased incidence of drought (18.3%), heavy storms and increased incidence of flooding had 6.7% respectively, poor fish harvest (5%) was considered as the least factor on impacts of climate change.

MAJOR PERSONALITY TRAITS INFLUENCING ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE: A CASE OF URBAN LEARNING ECOLOGIES

The grim actualities of modern societies have shifted the attention of human beings from civil wars and beggary to environmental issues such as pollution and climate change. The subtle shifts in environmental balance that are observable from global warming, water scarcity, and poor harvest resulting from erratic rainfall distributions across different countries of the world has led to global campaigns in order to promote positive environment behavioural change. Several change agents have advocated the use of mitigation practices such as using emerging western and indigenous technologies and renewable energies, they have overlooked the major personality traits that will implement the proposed changes. Hence, this research explores the influence of major personality traits on students' environmental knowledge in urban learning spaces. The social cognitive theory was used to untangle the conforming and non-conforming environmental behaviours of students in urban learning spaces. The research adopts a 'field-based' MO to gather data from four hundred and sixty-two students that were randomly selected from thirteen secondary schools in urban centres in Nigeria. Research instruments such as the NEO Five-Factor Inventory and Environmental Knowledge Test were adapted to collect data from the selected students. The quantitative data were subjected to multiple regression analysis. Results showed that there was a significant influence of the major personality factors on students' environmental knowledge (R= 0.297). The research recommends that teachers should include these major personality traits in the environmental education programme of their schools. Keywords: environmental education, environmental knowledge, field-based research, major personality traits, students, urban learning spaces.

The Remote-Sensing Bridge: Benefits of Leveraging the Seasonal Lags in Wheat Calendars between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

While it remains highly challenging to timely and accurately forecast cereal production before harvest, recent progress in the assessment of crop growing conditions using remote-sensing (RS) data and techniques allows to effectively estimate cereal yields one or two months before harvest at national scales. Once such forecasts become highly accurate and available to the public in a timely manner, farmers in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres will be able to use this information to adjust their production plan by leveraging the seasonal lags in crop calendars between the two hemispheres. Such a response could help reduce supply and price volatilities in world food market. This research aims to quantify the economic benefits of this RS forecasting triggered response in a natural experiment setting, which is based on the case of a poor wheat harvest in Russia and Ukraine in 2012. The simulation tool is a world-trade general equilibrium model with a land allocation module. The results show that the supply responses in the South can mitigate wheat price spikes of regional markets and reduce the adversary welfare shock to African households.

Production of Clay Containers for Curbing Plantain Post-Harvest Losses in Ghana

In Ghana, most farmers are peasants and at times foodstuffs produced get rotten either through transportation or market places. This normally affects the meager income that farmers earn through hard work. Available statistics indicate that each year, food crops worth several hundreds of dollars go waste in the country due to poor harvest losses and it represents 70% of total food production in Ghana. Again, in the country, there is abundant of clay as a natural resource. Geological study has revealed that it is found in almost every part of the country. As a means of finding solution to the rate at which local foodstuffs especially plantain rot, the study sought to design and compose clay container purposefully for storing plantain to prolong its lifespan. The study focused on 5 clay body compositions (C1 to C5) and fired at 950°C. Composition C1 consisted of 50% of Abonko clay and 50% of Daboase clay. Composition C2 was made up of 40% Abonko clay, 50% Daboase clay and 10% of smooth sawdust. Composition C3 composed of 45% of Abonko clay, 45% of Daboase clay and 10% of smooth sawdust. Composition C4 was made up of 90% Daboase clay and 10% rough sawdust. The last composition C5 comprised mainly 100% Abonko clay. Fresh plantains obtained from Takoradi market circle were stored in the containers and weekly recordings of states of plantain for five consecutive weeks were carried out. It was revealed that C4 was successful in storing fresh plantains to ripe stage after the five weeks. It is recommended among others that, the technique should be made available to stakeholders such as Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), plantain farmers and market plantain sellers through seminars, public education and symposia in order to minimize post-harvest losses.

Техніко-технологічна ефективність начіпної сівалки для посів кукурудзи

Grain production is the main task of agrarian production. In solving this problem a significant place belongs to corn. Corn is a culture unlimited possibilities in productivity and in use. The aim of our research is to create a universal unit for planting crops in different ways and with different technological requirements. The question changing the market conditions for grain and niche production is constantly relevant. And under each culture there is a set of technics. Buying technics for all crops is economically unprofitable. It is a big expense. Also, the issue of loading technics is relevant - increasing the coefficient of time use change. To create a prototype corn sowing machine, we converted the sowing machine SZ-3.6 from the trailer to the haul, using a 100/100 square profile pipe for the frame, a hub from the cultivator KRN-5,4, which has mounted stars for the drive of the seeding machines and wheels radius 16 with KPS-4. In order to ensure the appropriate width of the row spacing, the number of shoots was changed from 24 to 15 and the width of the row spacing from 15 cm to 17.5 cm was changed, which enabled the unit to be used for sowing both corn and corn with an intermediate row of 70 cm. Also, for four cultivators on distance of 70 cm, closers and crochet wheels are installed [1, 3]. During the research it was found that the corn sowing rate for grain in the range of 65-75 thousand seeds per hectare per stem develops and a half corncobs. This leads to poor harvest quality and negatively affects its quantitative indices - yield. At the expense of increasing the seed rate to 85 thousand seeds per hectare, one stalk develops on one stalk, which is filled with quality seeds and yields from such a stem increases by 8-12%.

Comparison of climatic impacts transmission from temperature to grain harvests and economies between the Han (206 BC–AD 220) and Tang (AD 618–907) dynasties

The present study aims to compare quantitatively the similarities and differences of transmission processes extending from climate change to grain harvests and economies (macro-economy and fiscal balance) between the Han (206 BC–AD 220) and Tang (AD 618–907) dynasties of China. It is found that both the Han and Tang periods displayed close positive correlations among temperature, grain harvest, macro-economy and fiscal balance and conveyed a positive feedback–oriented transmission pattern with the upgrade of climatic impact level from grain harvest to economic system. Compared with the Han period, the overall linkages among indicators weakened during the Tang period, particularly for the correlation between grain harvest and fiscal balance. The mean temperature during the Tang period was slightly higher but had greater multidecadal variability, coinciding with better performance (and less variations) of macro-economy and fiscal balance (particularly for cold units) and higher variations of grain harvest. It displayed relatively little difference for the main pathways that could be interpreted as climatic impacts during the warm units between the Han and Tang periods, and both approximately 33% of the decades for warm units (100%) ending with fiscal balance/surplus were more likely to be associated with the impacts of temperature change. The difference mainly lies in cold units in the links of ‘cold → poor harvest’ and ‘poor harvest → macro-economic depression’ through the pathway of ‘cold → poor harvest → macro-economic depression/normal economy → fiscal deficiency’. Overall, macro-economy and fiscal system of the Tang period displayed less sensitivity to temperature change and agriculture production in cold period. Those patterns might be related with the unique socio-economic situations such as agricultural fragmentation, southward shift of economic resource and tax system reform during the later Tang Dynasty.

К вопросу об ускоренном формировании целевыхнасаждений сосны кедровойна зонально-типологической основев Западной Сибири

Приведены результаты изучения зонально-типологических особенностей кедровников Западной Сибири. Выявлены оптимальные экологические условия для роста сосны кедровой. Предложены мероприятия по ускоренному формированию орехоносных кедровников. Zone-typological features of cedar forests were studied based on the materials of the forest management of the Khanty-Mansi and Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Districts. The analysis of the data showed that in the taiga zone of Western Siberia, more than 30 types of forest are included in the 6 groups. The most widespread and significant in economic terms is the plantation of cedar, which belong to the green mosses group of forest types. On trial plots of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug and Tomsk Oblast, the growth of crops and undergrowth as well as the nut productivity of pine cedar were determined. Experiments on removal of birch and aspen by arboricides were carried out in the Tyumen region and the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug. Optimal conditions for the growth of cedar are added under full illumination. Accelerated formation of nut-bearing stone pine forests is promising in herbage, grass-floodplain, green-moss groups of forest types in the southern and middle taiga, reducing by 5-10 times the period of oppressed cedar growth under the canopy of deciduous plantations. The cutting of the maternal stand is more actively responded to by adolescents 1–3 m in height. Thin young growth, more than 5 m in height, is prone to damage by wind. It is established that for clarification of cultures and natural growth of cedar, birch and aspen shoots are effectively sprayed in August with glyphosate derivatives (doses 6,0–8,0 l/ha) or dried by injection into barrels of arboricides. Radical acceleration of the onset of seed formation in cedar is achieved by grafting cuttings into crones of cedar youngstocks from positive seed-bearing trees. This made it possible to obtain pine nuts from the age of 20–25 years old and to reduce to a minimum the years with poor harvest. Low-productive dark coniferous plantations of forest-tundra and northern taiga, lichen and sphagnum stone pine forests of the more southern subzones are recommended to be used for protection of water objects and environmental protection purposes.

Social capital and transaction costs in millet markets

In sub-Saharan Africa, transaction costs are believed to be the most significant barrier that prevents smallholders and farmers from gaining access to markets and productive assets. In this study, we explore the impact of social capital on millet prices for three contrasted years in Senegal. Social capital is approximated using a unique data set on mobile phone communications between 9 million people allowing to simulate the business network between economic agents. Our approach is a spatial equilibrium model that integrates a diversified set of data. Local supply and demand were respectively derived from remotely sensed imagery and population density maps. The road network was used to establish market catchment areas, and transportation costs were derived from distances between markets. Results demonstrate that accounting for the social capital in the transaction costs explained 1–9% of the price variance depending on the year. The year-specific effect remains challenging to assess but could be related to a strengthening of risk aversion following a poor harvest.

Agro climatic conditions, cropping pattern and its profitability in South Andaman District of Bay Islands

South Andaman district is a group of 10 inhabited islands spread over an area of 310.6 thousand ha as a part of Andaman and Nicobar group of islands in Bay of Bengal. Shifting cultivation on slopes, land degradation, high intensity rainfall, poor crop harvest, low cropping intensity, non availability of labour, high price of agricultural produce imported from mainland and limited employment opportunities resulted into acute poverty in this region. The study revealed that major cultivated crops(vegetable: 1317 ha, paddy: 216.1 ha, maize: 55 ha, ginger: 51.5 ha, sweet potato: 46 ha, tapioca: 26.5 ha, turmeric: 19.5 ha, green gram: 7.2 ha, black gram: 6.5 ha)were not at all economic due to lower net returns and lower benefit-cost ratios (BCR). It was found that the higher net returns were obtained from ginger cultivation (Rs 4, 23, 900) followed by tapioca (Rs 3, 68, 160), sweet potato (Rs 2, 42, 760), vegetables (Rs 2, 07, 760), turmeric (Rs 1, 15, 450), mustard (Rs 19, 125), maize (Rs 11, 430) and arhar (Rs 10, 375). Benefit cost ratio (BCR) was found to be highest in case of tapioca (3.06) followed by sweet potato (2.68), vegetables (2.17), ginger (2.00), arhar (1.53), mustard (1.46), green gram (1.38), turmeric (1.30) and black gram (1.23). In order to avail maximum returns, crops having higher net returns and BCRs need to be allocated more area. Therefore, limited area should be put under paddy, maize, green gram and black gram to meet the minimum food requirement of the district and surplus area to be used for growing crops like ginger, tapioca, sweet potato, vegetable having higher BCRs and net returns to make the agriculture profitable and sustainable.

Formation of the productivity of winter wheat varieties with various degree of resistance under the influence of fungal diseases

Purpose. To investigate the effect of fungal diseases on the productivity of winter wheat varieties of various resis­tance using artificial infection backgrounds. Methods. Field one – assessment of the resistance of variety samples to fungal diseases on infection backgrounds. Laboratory one – structural analysis of variety samples. Mathematical-statistical one – evaluation of investigation results and analysis of correlations between the obtained data. Results. Fungal diseases as the most widespread and harmful affect various organs of plants and cause poor harvest, deteriorate commercial and seed quality of grain. The results of field experiments in 2012–2017 on the effects of fungal diseases on the yields of winter wheat in the collection are given. It is defined that the infection of winter wheat with fungus ( Septoria tritici Rob.) and powdery mildew ( Erysiphe graminis DS. F. sp . tritici ) adversely affected the length of the ear, the number of grains in it, grain mass per ear and the thousand-kernel weight. However, productivity indices changed differently in investigated variety samples. The high-yielding wheat varieties ‘Sm u hlianka’ and ‘Novokyivska’ were the most tolerant to the fungal diseases. In the Septoria-resistant variety ‘Sm u hlianka’ at 75% of infestation the decrease in productivity was from 1,4 to 12,2%, whereas the in susceptible variety sample ‘UK 1731’ it was from 6,2 to 16,7%. A similar situation was observed in the variety ‘Novokyivska’ resistant to powdery mildew. Conclusions. Selected tolerant and highly productive varieties ‘Sm u hlianka’ and ‘Novo­kyivska’ (grade 7–6) can resist to Septoria disease and powdery mildew without productivity loss, they are considered as a promising source of resistance to these diseases and be of interest for further breeding in Ukraine.

The Holocaust and Humanity

The Holocaust and Humanity

Variability for harvest index and biomass in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) varieties

Lentil is an important cool season food legume of our nation and positions next just to chickpea. Pulses are generally known to produce higher vegetative part and less grain yield, consequently poor harvest index. Lentil is no exception to this, and produces excess vegetative growth and support lesser grains. Therefore, in present investigation attempt has been made to screen 36 lentil varieties for biomass and harvest index in macro-sperma and micro-sperma types. Ample amount of variability were recorded for both harvest index and biomass. 37.78-62.96 per cent and 3.38 g to 40.94 gm range was noticed for harvest index and biomass, respectively. At the end of present investigation, three lentil varieties viz. L 4147, IPL 406 and PL 234 were identified as high biomass and high harvest index varieties. These varieties may be used as an agronomic base in the future lentil improvement programme for evolving high yielding varieties.

Dependence of the Poor on Forest Resources: Evidence from China

Quantifying the contribution of forest income to household’s total income, especially the poorest, is important to understand rural livelihoods, causes of poverty and designing effective development and conservation strategies. Based on a large-scale household investigation of 1495 rural households of 82 villages in 7 provinces in China in 2014–2015, this study used descriptive statistical analysis and built multilevel models to explain individual heterogeneity. Results showed that: (1) the poorest households are the less dependent on non-farm income than other households due to fewer non-farm work opportunities; (2) forest income is important for all households, although poorest ones relied more on forests; (3) the average forest income of households in the richest group is three times as much as that of households in the poorest group; (4) forest income can be increased with more land accessible to the poor and fairer harvest quota applying system. Improving roads condition and increasing forest cooperatives increase household forest income as well. The findings of this paper will be useful in designing alternative policies to alleviate poverty and protect forest resources.

Extreme Climatic Events in the Central Altai of the Last 1500 Years According to Tree-Ring Chronology Jelo

Based on the occurrence distortion analysis of the anomalous tree rings structure (frost ring, light ring, fluctuation in a tree ring) and missing rings, the chronology of extreme climatic events over the last 1500 years on the Central Altai was constructed. The results allowed us to determine the most significant events in 536-537, 591, 627, 803, 874, 905-906, 935, 1243-1245, 1370-1371, 1399, 1645-1647, 1662, 1699-1700, 1751, 1783-1784, 1812-1814, 1874-1875, 1900. The verification of the dates of extreme events in the period from 1600 to 1850 has revealed that they are consistent with the data of historical evidence (about frosts, poor harvest, lean years and etc.) and the dates of large volcanic eruptions.

Infrastructure Development for Agro-Processing Cooperatives in Maharashtra: An Ex-Post Evaluation

Although India is blessed with diverse agro-climatic conditions and so has the ability to produce a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, flowers and a host of other agro-based products, a substantial quantity of horticultural produce of our country is lost due to poor post harvest processing, handling, transportation and storage operations. In order to curb these losses, some of the agencies like National Horticulture Board (NHB) and National Cooperative Development Cooperation (NCDC) are making sincere efforts to create adequate infrastructure facilities for horticultural crops. Among various schemes introduced by NCDC and NHB, the Soft Loan Scheme (SLS) of NHB is noteworthy. Under SLS, an assistance is provided to cooperative societies, public and private limited companies, and farmers association with a maximum limit of Rs.1.00 crore at 4 per cent service charges per annum with one year moratorium period to set up projects related to infrastructure development. Maharashtra is noticed to be the only state which has received about 52 per cent of the total soft loan distributed by NHB to 26 beneficiaries in the country. Majority of the beneficiaries of SLS in Maharashtra are processing cooperatives. The present study attempts to evaluate not only the NHB’s soft loan scheme but also the impact of the scheme on development of post-harvest infrastructure (PHI) for horticulture crops in Maharashtra. The focus of this study is on two processing-cum-export oriented grape growers’ cooperative societies. The study shows a positive impact of SLS towards development PHI facilities since such facilities have not only increased the export trade of the selected societies but they have also helped in increasing the productivity levels of the crops grown in the area, besides helping in reducing the post harvest losses of the produce. Nonetheless, with a view to further improve the efficiency of SLS, the study has made a few major suggestions, which mainly revolve around simplification of loan procedure adopted by the NHB, timely disbursement of the loan, financing of the entire comprehensive project rather than for certain specific components, subsidization of electricity tariffs for the processing units, subsidization of sea freight, provision of funds for setting up of Research and Development unit for the marketing of produce, provision of foreign market intelligence, etc. However, how best these suggestions are taken care of by the NHB and various other organizations will depend on their future strategies and policies relating to financing of PHI related facilities for horticultural crops.

A Comparison of Efficacy Following Two Different Doses of Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) Alone for Mobilization of Peripheral Blood Stem Cells in 221 Multiple Myeloma Patients

Introduction:Intensive chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is currently the treatment of choice in multiple myeloma (MM). Mobilization of hematopoietic stem cell blood (HSCs) can be achieved either by the combination of chemotherapy plus growth factors or by growth factors alone. However, there is no consensus concerning the dose of growth factor alone that should be administered, with ranges varying from 5 microgr to 16 microgr/kg body weight.In this context, we report our experience in mobilization of HSCs using growth factor alone at the dose between 15 microgr /kg and 10 microgr /kg in MM.Patients and methods:A total of 340 ASCT were performed in our center, from May 2009 until June the 31st 2016. These concerned 221 patients with MM. Patients were hospitalized at day -5 on which mobilization started with G-CSF alone (filgrastim) at the dose of 15 microgr /kg/daily subcutaneously for 5 days from May 2009 to October 2012 and at the dose of 10 microgr /kg from November 2012 to June 2016. The white blood cell count was assessed daily. Apheresis was performed at day -2 and day -1 using a Spectra Optia CMN device, and the CD34+ count was assessed by flow cytometry. A single leukapheresis was performed if the number of CD34+ cells was above 2.106/kg. Failure of mobilization was defined as a level of CD34+ less than 2.106/kg, after two leukapheresis.In our study patients were divided into two groups: Group1 (G-CSF=15 microgr /kg) and Group 2 (G-CSF=10 microgr /kg) and the number of CD34+ were divided into three groups: optimal (³5.0 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg), suboptimal (2.0Ð5.0 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg) and poor (<2.0 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg) mobilization. Intensification was done using melphalan 200 mg/m2 on day -1.Results:Patient's characteristics are shown in Table 1. No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups. In this study, we found no significant difference in terms of optimal (p= 0.73), sub-optimal (p= 0.19) or poor (p= 0.11) harvest of stem cells between the 2 groups (table 2). Among the poor mobilizators with G-CSF, only 4 of them had a level of CD34+ harvest less than 0.5 x 106/kg. These patients did not receive an ASCT. 1,3% (4) of all apheresis failed to achieve acceptable harvest level.Conclusion:Our study showed that the mobilization regimen with G-CSF alone at the doses of 10 microgr/kg have the same efficacy as the doses of 15 microgr/kg and is interesting alternative to chemotherapy and G-CSF in patients with MM because it can be administered as an outpatient and is not associated with the risk of febrile neutropenia. [Display omitted] [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

“I eat two meals per day” impact of climate variability on eating habits among households in Rufiji district, Tanzania: a qualitative study

Improved understanding of the influence of climate variability on eating habits is required to manage health outcomes that could be produced. Agriculture production is the main source of income to people in Rufiji district, where communities produce food for household and also for income. Effects of climate variability and weather extremes include occurrence of floods and prolonged dry seasons, which are recently reported to be very frequent in Africa continent, affecting food production. Prolonged dry seasons as well as frequent floods have been reported to destroy cultivated food crops in Rufiji district. However, there is little evidence on climate variability effects on household food security and their eating habits in Tanzania. Therefore, this study assessed the influence of climate variability impacts such as prolonged dry seasons and floods on the eating habits of Tanzanian rural households. Study findings showed that respondents recognized changes in seasonal trends such as rainfall pattern and increase in temperature in the area. Drought and floods reduce food production and cause shortages in households. Low and poor harvest of food crops is the major contributing factor in their farms of rice and maize, the main staple food crops grown amidst prolonged dry seasons. They reported existence of household food shortage which was not there 10 years ago. Participants developed adaptation mechanisms that included reducing food quantity, eating of new meals which were not eaten before as a main meal such as cooked unripe mangoes and stiff porridge. Household members decided to change eating habits as an adaptation strategy to the situation of food shortage. Some discussants acknowledged reducing number of meals, eating two meals a day instead of three or four as it was 10 years ago. Climate variability has led to reduced amount of annual rainfall, thus affecting food productivity and consequently food shortages and changes in dietary habits among the people in Rufiji. Additional research is warranted to assess the impacts of climate variability on nutritional quality of meals.

Correlation between climate and grain harvest fluctuations and the dynastic transitions and prosperity in China over the past two millennia

The social impacts of climate change constitute an important field within the study of global change. The impacts of historical climate change on dynastic transitions and prosperity in China from a food safety perspective is a helpful research topic that contributes to a better understanding of the impacts, process, and mechanism of climate change, as well as a reference for projecting the impacts of climate change in the future. This study defined the periods of dynastic transitions and prosperity in China from 210 BC to AD 1910 and analyzed the relationships among dynastic transition or dynastic prosperity, climate change, and grain harvests. From 210 BC to AD 1910, dynastic transitions mostly coincided with cold ages or the periods that changed from warm to cold and dry or wet-to-dry periods when there was relatively poor harvest. In contrast, dynastic prosperity mostly coincided with warm ages or the periods that changed from cold to warm and wet or dry-to-wet periods when there was relatively bumper harvest. Meanwhile, the dynastic transitions from a divisive dynasty to a unified dynasty often came with a progressively warm phase on the century scale when grain harvests increased. Interestingly, the division of a unified dynasty often came with a progressively cold phase and poor harvests. Furthermore, changes in temperature and agricultural production may be one of the most important factors leading to the collapse of Tang Dynasty. In conclusion, the fluctuation of grain harvests and climate change correspond with the transitions between a tumultuous society and an ordered one, which reveals that the social sensitivity periods were often a result of a change to a colder climate on the century scale.

Crop Damage by the Blackbuck Antilope Cervicapra in and around Chitta Reserve Forest of Bidar, Karnataka

Crop Damage by the Blackbuck Antilope Cervicapra in and around Chitta Reserve Forest of Bidar, Karnataka

Design of a Helical Coil Dehumidifier for a Novel Gravity-driven Solar Distillation Unit

Solar distillation is a widely researched option for producing potable water in water-starved regions of the globe. Despite its technical simplicity and easiness-to-use, its efficiency has not sufficiently improved to promote its widespread use. The reasons for relative inefficiency of solar distillation are poor energy harvest at solar collectors, poor utilization of the harvested energy for evaporation of the water and suboptimum condensation of the humidified air in the condenser. A novel concept of solar still attempts to optimize the humidification-dehumidification cycle of a solar distillation unit to address these issues related to solar distillation units. The system works in a closed air open water humidification-dehumidification cycle. The energy source is solar irradiation, which heats up an air-water mixture. The driving force in the system is a small suction pressure induced in the system due to an aerator attached to the water inlet. A helical coil dehumidifier achieves efficient dehumidification in the system. The current paper describes experiments conducted to improve the efficiency of the dehumidifier attached to the novel solar distillation unit by optimizing the design parameters. The dehumidifier has the shape of a helical coil heat exchanger, which is cooled by the relatively cold water from a reservoir, which conversely, is heated by the heat of condensation. Even though there are sufficient studies on the design parameters of general helical coil condensers in literature, few studies are done to study their use in a humidification-dehumidification cycle involving non-condensable air. Further, a detailed parameter study of the helical coil dehumidifier is not yet done. The current paper discusses the various design parameters of a helical coil dehumidifier working in conjunction with a solar distillation unit as described above. Different design parameters of a helical coil dehumidifier discussed in this paper are pitch and diameter of the helical dehumidifier. Design insights for helical coil dehumidifier are thus obtained. The study reveals that the overall efficiency of a solar humidification-dehumidification cycle of a solar distillation unit could be considerably improved by optimizing the design of the helical coil dehumidifier used therein.