Solar Drying Technology for Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) the ancient and sacred spice of India known as 'Indian Saffron' is an important commercial spice crop grown in India. Turmeric is widely used as a food colorant and has been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and anti-cancer properties. It is also known as the 'Golden Spice of life" and is one of the most essential spices used as an important ingredient in culinary all over the world.Solar energy a form of sustainable energy has a great potential for wide variety of applications because it is abundant and accessible, especially for countries located in the tropical region. Solar drying of fruits and vegetables overcomes the drawbacks of traditional open sun drying such as, contamination from dust, insects, birds and animals, lack of control over drying conditions, possibility of chemical, enzymic, and microbial spoilage due to long drying times. Solar drying is advantageous over normal convective dryers like hot air dryer, which requires enormous fuel and energy cost. Due to abundant availability of solar radiation attention has been gradually diverting to utilize this renewable energy for a number of applications.