Young farmer wins national award for solar dryer innovation

July 24, 2025 Innovation Valli Sarvani

India is witnessing a wave of rural innovation that blends tradition with technology for sustainable farming.

Swuyievezo Dzudo, a 26-year-old progressive farmer from Porba village in Phek district, Nagaland, has won the IARI Innovative Farmer Award 2025.

He also received the award at the prestigious Pusa Agri Fair 2025. Dzudo’s innovation, a low-cost solar dryer, has earned national recognition.

Built using waste and recycled materials like bamboo, wood, UV sheets, empty beer cans, solar plates, acrylic sheets, and thermometers, the dryer is both eco-friendly and affordable.

The solar accumulator, made from beer cans and acrylic sheets, improves heat retention. As a result, drying becomes faster and more efficient.

This solar dryer helps reduce post-harvest crop wastage and improves the quality of dried produce.

By improving the drying process, the dryer helps reduce crop wastage, maintain nutritional quality, and ensure longer shelf life.

As a result, farmers can achieve better market value and increased income. Since it uses solar energy and recyclable materials, the solution is both eco-friendly and cost-effective.

This innovation proves especially useful for remote and hilly regions, where traditional drying methods are weather-dependent and inefficient.

The dryer can be built using local labour and materials, making it easy to replicate and maintain.

This innovation aligns with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. It promotes self-reliance, green technology, and rural empowerment.

Farmers in Phek district have already adopted the solar dryer, showing its high potential for replication across India.

With support and awareness, such farmer-led solutions can drive agricultural transformation, increase rural incomes, and build food security.

Innovations like Dzudo’s dryer not only modernise Indian farming but also reflect the power of grassroots ingenuity.

This recognition brings hope and direction for many young rural entrepreneurs across the country, proving that innovation doesn’t need to be expensive, just impactful.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on March 02, 2017