Development and evaluation of an indigenous multi-heat source crop dryer

Post-harvest losses pose a major threat to food security, often resulting from improper handling and preservation of agricultural produce. Drying is a critical preservation technique that reduces moisture content to maintain product quality, extend shelf life, and enhance ease of transportation. Although sun-drying remains a cost-effective and widely accessible method for rural farmers, it frequently compromises product quality, motivating the development of improved drying technologies. This study presents the design and performance evaluation of an indigenous multi-heat-source crop dryer equipped with a continuous airflow system powered by heat energy. The dryer was tested using plantain and sweet potato, with cooking gas and kerosene as heat sources, and compared against traditional sun-drying. Data collected included moisture loss, drying time, drying temperature, and environmental parameters such as ambient temperature and relative humidity. Statistical analysis conducted using R software revealed no significant differences in moisture loss among treatments; however, the drying period varied significantly. The mean moisture loss ranged from 0.30 kg to 0.32 kg for plantain and from 0.31 kg to 0.32 kg for sweet potato, while the drying time ranged between 90 minutes and 720 minutes for bananas, and 90 minutes to 840 minutes for sweet potato. The dryer achieved higher drying rates and greater efficiency when using gas and kerosene compared to sun-drying. Sun-dried samples exhibited greater color variation due to prolonged exposure. Overall, the multi-heat-source crop dryer effectively reduced drying time, maintained product quality, and utilized readily available fuel sources, offering a practical and sustainable solution for reducing post-harvest losses.