solar dryers

In 2019, Shivraj Nishad from Shekhpur village in Kanpur left his job to start a small-scale business cultivating, harvesting, and dehydrating local flowers such as butterfly pea, rose, hibiscus, marigold, tulsi, jasmine, and chamomile. Utilising solar dryers, he expanded his venture, employing over 100 farmers and offering 15 varieties of dried flowers.

In Jharkhand’s mining districts, solar dryers, irrigation pumps, and cold storage units are helping smallholder farmers reduce waste and increase income. Through the JH-RESET project, supported by Swaniti Initiative, the state is also training mine workers for new roles in solar infrastructure, food processing, and green enterprises—redefining rural livelihoods.

Basking in the sun-drenched heights of the Himalayas, Ladakh embraces over 300 sunny days annually. Through initiatives like the ITBP’s solar power system and plans for a massive 13 GW renewable energy park, Ladakh is turning its harsh climate into a solar energy hub.

Ninad, Achyut and Latika Patil, a family from Maharashtra, run Gold Orchards, where they use solar drying machines to process chikoo to make innovative products out of them.