@article{Sankat:261613, recid = {261613}, author = {Sankat, Clement K. }, title = {Technical and Economic Parameters for the Adoption of Solar Drying Systems on Small Farms}, address = {1984-10-21}, number = {1975-2017-3541}, pages = {4}, year = {1984}, abstract = {Solar cabinet dryers appear suitable for use by small Caribbean farmers, many with farms less than 1 ha in size. Perishable products like sorrel, hot peppers, sweet potatoes and mango slices may be dried for safe storage. In a solar cabinet dryer of the multi-rack design, an overall drying efficiency of 25% can be expected. Crops can be dried in thin layers with loading densities of less than 5 kg/m2, in two days of fair weather. For the small farmers, with holdings ranging from 0.125 to 1 ha, and with 50% of their annual crop yield dried, dryers with cover areas ranging approximately from 3.8 m2 to 30.8 m2 respectively, will be adequate for a crop like sorrel. The minimum estimated cost of such dryers would correspondingly increase from US$75 to US$600.}, url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/261613}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.261613}, }