Solar-powered greenhouse dryer for agro-processing and value addition for farm produce
Innovation Type:
Energy-Food
Product Segment:
Energy – Value-Added Processing
Country of Incorporation:
Zimbabwe
Country of Implementation:
South Africa
Mozambique
Namibia
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Company Stage:
Stage 4: 10,001 to 999,999 end-users
Seeking Investment:
Yes, $1 million USD
Financing Goals:
Seeking equity (angel investor, venture capital or private equity)
Seeking combination of debt and equity
Contact Name:
Perseverance Muzeya
Contact Email:
Challenges
Farmers in Zimbabwe face challenges when selling fresh farm produce at major marketplaces. As they lack access to cold storage and must face a combination of power cuts and load shedding, they are unable to store their produce in a manner that would prevent post-harvest losses.
Solutions
Alzanael’s solar-powered greenhouse dryer offers a way to prevent post-harvest losses. Designed with smallholder farmers in mind, their solar dehydrating service is easily accessible, allowing even those with limited resources to benefit from it. The innovator works with farmers from communal farming areas who are far from the market, so most of their produce would rot before arriving at the market. The dryers ensure that these smallholder farmers no longer have to travel far to sell their produce.
Alzanael has created more than 50 jobs in these communities and helped smallholder farmers increase their income as they can now sell their processed products at market rates because products can now be stored for longer.
Their innovation aligns with sustainable practices by minimizing energy consumption and relying on renewable resources, contributing to an eco-friendlier approach to agribusiness.
