SESCOM has completed the installation of 78 solar drying systems across smallholder farming communities in Kilimanjaro and Njombe regions, as part of its Productive Use of Energy (PUE) programme.
The solar dryers are used to preserve bananas, tomatoes, onions, spices, and fish, dramatically reducing post-harvest losses and enabling farmers to sell dried products at premium prices throughout the year.
Each system was accompanied by a full training programme covering operation, basic maintenance, food safety, and market linkage for dried produce.
"Before the solar dryer, we would lose almost 40% of our tomato harvest during the peak season," said one beneficiary farmer in Njombe. "Now we dry them and sell throughout the year at better prices."
SESCOM plans to scale this programme to 200 additional systems across the Southern Highlands and Lake Zone regions by the end of 2025.