Research

DEVELOPING A MODULAR, SOLAR-POWERED ROOT CROP
PROCESSING MACHINE FOR DIRECT FARM-TO-MARKET

OPERATIONS
INTRODUCTION:
Root crops like potato, carrot, ginger and other similar produces need to be cleaned
immediately before transferring to the market. In addition, the harvested root
crops should be cleaned before weighing and grading as harvesting process leaves
soil and foreign materials stick to the harvested root crops. Washing of root
vegetables is a vital step in most post-harvest processing operations, which
enhances their attractiveness and improve their marketing value. Despite its
substantial importance, the washing process of harvested root crops in all small
farms is usually carried out manually which is very tedious, time consuming and
expensive process (Meshram and Ikhar, 2018).
Traditional methods of washing drying and sorting root crops can be time-
consuming, labor-intensive, and inefficient, often leading to inconsistent quality,
water waste and potential hygiene concerns. This motivates the development of
improved root crop washer, dryer, and sorter solutions, particularly for small and
medium-scale farmers and communities in resource-limited settings.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Despite their nutritional value, root crops face a post-harvest hurdle:
washing, drying and sorting. Small-scale farmers struggle with laborious hand-
washing, wasting water, drying and sorting while expensive machinery remains out
of reach (ECHOcommunity.org, FAO).). Even larger operations face limitations,
with slow, inaccurate manual sorting hindering efficiency and inconsistent quality
standards affecting market access (World Vegetable Center, FAO). Water scarcity
and improper wastewater disposal add to the environmental burden (AVRDC).
Estimating the power consumption by using solar powered. These challenges
impede profitability, sustainability, and ultimately, farmer livelihoods and food
security.
OBJECTIVES
 To fabricate a modular/portable automated solar powered root crop washer,

dry and sorter machine design that can be adapt to a diverse range of
applications. (Direct process from harvest site to market.)
 To minimize the labor-intensive, time-consuming, and inefficient (washing,
drying and sorting/classifier)
 To Promote innovation and adoption of renewable energy independence.
 To Evaluate the performance, cost-effectiveness, and user acceptance of the
developed washer.
 To Analyze user needs and preferences for portability, affordability, and
functionality.
 To Explore water-efficient washing technologies suitable for portable
applications.
JUSTIFICATION
This research aims to build a portable, solar-powered machine that washes, dries,
and sorts root crops right at the farm. This "all-in-one" machine, designed to fit
different crops and areas, could reduce waste, boost farmer income, and be kind to
the environment by using less water and solar power. This research hopes to
improve food security, empower farmers, and create a more sustainable future, one
root crop at a time.
REFERENCES
 The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): The FAO website
offers various resources on post-harvest handling of fruits and
vegetables, including specific guidelines for root
crops: https://www.fao.org/home/en
 Postharvest Technology Centre (PTC): The PTC provides technical
information and resources on post-harvest management, including
cleaning and washing of agricultural produce: https://postharvest.org/
 ECHO Technical Notes: ECHO provides practical resources for small-
scale farmers, including a note on "Simple Root Crop
Cleaners": https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780128043134/eco-
friendly-technology-for-postharvest-produce-quality
 "Development of Potato Washer for Small and Medium Farms" by
Meshram and Ikhar (2018): This paper directly relates to the quoted
passage and might be the specific reference you're looking for. You can
access it through conference proceedings databases like ACM Digital
Library or IEEE Xplore.
 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
316348080_DEVELOPMENT_AND_PERFORMANCE_EVALUAT
ION_OF_CARROT_WASHER

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DEVELOPING A MODULAR, SOLAR-POWERED ROOT CROP

PROCESSING MACHINE FOR DIRECT FARM-TO-MARKET

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

 To fabricate a modular/portable automated solar powered root crop washer,

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