event 26 Apr 2023

Nexus Regional Dialogue LAC // IIGE, GIZ, and the Nexus Regional Dialogues Programme present the implementation of a solar cocoa dryer in Tena, Ecuador

On April 13th, a technical visit was conducted at the solar cocoa dryer located at the Kallari Association's collection centre in Tena, Ecuador to present the operation of the solar cocoa dryer system. The dryer helps to reduce humidity, increase the quality of the products, reduce drying time, and contributes to improveming the living conditions of the beneficiaries.

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Staff from IIGE, GIZ and Kallari Foundation in the greenhouse where the solar cocoa dryer was installed.

This article is also available in spanish.

This article was first published on the website of the Government of Ecuador on April 14, 2023.

On 13 April, a technical visit was made to the solar cocoa dryer located at the collection centre of the Kallari Association in Tena, Napo Province in Ecuador. The tour was attended by technicians and authorities from the Ecuatorian Institute for Geological and Energy Research (IIGE), the Nexus Regional Dialogues Programme (implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, co-financed by the EU and the BMZ) and the president of the Kallari Artisanal Association, Carlos Pozo. In addition, a workshop was held in which around 20 representatives of the productive sector of the Chakra Group participated.

Advantages of the implementation of the solar cocoa dryer

The visit served to present the technical operation of the solar cocoa dryer system. The drying process is fundamental in the bean processing stage because it allows the elimination of excess moisture, its storage and subsequent distribution or use in the production of chocolate. The implementation of the solar dryer has the advantages of reducing humidity, increasing the quality of the products, reducing the drying time, and contributing to improving the living conditions of the beneficiaries.

Benefits, characteristics and results of the project

After the presentation of this technology and the demonstration of its usefulness, a workshop was held with representatives of the productive sector of the Chakra Group, where the benefits, characteristics and results of the project were presented. The implementation of the solar bean dryer was part of the initiatives, projects and technical assistance undertaken by the Nexus Regional Dialogues Programme in 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The IIGE implemented this project with funding from the GIZ through its BioValor and Nexus programmes. The technical visit was part of the agenda of the second edition of the Nexus Dialogue Water, Energy and Food in Ecuador that took place on the 12th and 13th of April in Quito.

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