National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) is in the process of commercialising hybrid solar dryer to introduce an effective, inexpensive and quick method of drying fruits and vegetables.
Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) is an initiative of NUST, which has taken the step to design and develop a Hybrid Solar Dryer to increase the production of dried apricots, apples, cherries and other fruits, spokesman of NUST Mansoor Ali told APP on Thursday. He said the first prototype of Hybrid Solar Dryer is ready for this purpose.
TIC is developing the product for commercial use to increase the market of Northern Areas' fruits and to build up income streams to the poor communities from the sales of their dried products, he added. Giving the details, he said hybrid solar drying systems utilise electrical energy to supplement solar dryers and thereby eliminating or reducing the weather dependence of solar only drying systems.