Design and Construction of a solar cereal dryer
Abstract
Cereal crops are usually harvested with moisture content of between 19 percent and 25 percent which is a favourable environment for the growth of moulds (fungi) that causes grain spoilage and mycotoxins contamination resulting to losses. Grains dried in direct contact with bare ground are more susceptible to contamination by fungi that produce aflatoxins which is popular to many farmers using this traditional method. Farmers also lack financial capacity to procure and operate mechanized dryer which requires substantial quantities of electricity to operate. Therefore a Solar Cereal Dryer is an alternative designed to improve this situation without grains being dried on direct bare ground .