Hybrid Solar Drying.
Our hybrid solar drying facility in Kitgum is the centrepiece of our climate-smart processing model, renewable-energy drying that protects harvests, removes aflatoxin risk and is open to every farmer through Pay-As-You-Dry.
Why it matters
Eight reasons hybrid solar drying changes the economics of smallholder farming.
Renewable Energy
Solar-thermal collection with a biomass backup burner fuelled by our own briquettes, drying that runs without fossil fuel or grid power.
Reduced Drying Time
Controlled airflow and elevated chamber temperatures cut drying from several days on bare ground to a fraction of the time.
Aflatoxin Reduction
Rapid moisture removal in an enclosed chamber denies Aspergillus the damp window it needs to produce aflatoxin.
Mycotoxin Control
Screened, off-ground racks keep produce away from soil, dust, rain, livestock and the fungal loads that drive mycotoxin contamination.
Reduced Food Waste
Harvests no longer spoil waiting for sunshine. Farmers dry on schedule, whatever the weather, and lose far less of what they grow.
Improved Product Quality
Cleaner colour, consistent moisture and uniform grade, the quality commercial and export buyers pay a premium for.
Zero Waste Processing
Residues from drying and milling return to the system as animal feed and briquettes, closing the loop entirely.
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Lower emissions, less charcoal demand and climate-resilient post-harvest handling for smallholder households.
From field delivery to market-ready product.
Delivery & weighing
Farmers deliver fresh cassava, chips or sesame to the facility and produce is weighed and recorded.
Washing & preparation
Produce is cleaned, peeled and chipped to a uniform size for even drying.
Loading the racks
Material is spread on screened, off-ground racks inside the enclosed solar chamber.
Hybrid drying
Solar-thermal heat with biomass backup maintains controlled temperature and airflow day and night.
Moisture testing
Batches are tested to target moisture levels before discharge to guarantee shelf stability.
Packing & collection
Dried product is graded, bagged and either collected by the farmer or aggregated for market.
The Pay-As-You-Dry model.
Industrial drying capacity is normally out of reach for a smallholder farmer. Pay-As-You-Dry removes that barrier: farmers bring their harvest, pay only for the batch they dry, and walk away with a cleaner, safer, higher-value product that buyers will pay more for.
- No capital cost: farmers pay only for the batch they dry
- Transparent per-kilogram pricing
- Open to individuals, groups and cooperatives
- Aggregation and market linkage available on the same visit
- Priority slots during peak harvest for registered farmer groups