Demonstration on how to use a solar drier Photo: Rajesh Rai/SANDEE

As a measure to promote value addition in agricultural practices on farmlands, the project has supported local communities in the villages of Reiek and Ailawng by installing one solar drier each for processing turmeric. This will translate to higher income for farmers and reduce the need to extract forest products to support their livelihood. This serves as one demonstration activity that can contribute to addressing the drivers of forest degradation. The drier was handed over to the local community with an understanding that farmers are only allowed to process turmeric harvested in their farmlands.

Principal Secretary and PCCF of Mizoram Lalram Thanga inaugurating the handing over ceremony
Photo: Rajesh Rai/SANDEE

Principal Secretary and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of Mizoram, Lalram Thanga, inaugurated the handing over ceremony on 28 April 2017. During the event, he suggested that local community members carry out regular maintenance of the drier by cleaning the panels and trays. The inauguration was followed by an orientation session on REDD+ by Rongura Hrahsel, Assistant Forest Officer, Aizawl District, Mizoram. While thanking ICIMOD for selecting Mizoram for the REDD+ Himalaya project, he said that more driers could be introduced after observing the performance of the two driers for the next few months.

Locals were pleased to receive the drier which can be used to fulfill multiple purposes such as for drying vegetables. It can also run on electric power. The drier can dry 150 kg of turmeric at a time, and when it is running on solar power, the process takes two days to complete. The drier needs to be able to operate on electricity as well as Mizoram experiences a very long monsoon.

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