FAQs

Why use these materials?

Aluminium board: durable in most weather conditions and can last for 5+ years
PC plastic: ultra clear for high natural light transmission; lightweight and easy to handle, weather resistant, long life UV resistance and can last for 10+ years
Plastic mesh: easy to clean, light and food safe

It’s possible to attach a small, solar powered fan for ~300.000vnd which will add ventilation while the sun in shining.
Add a solar fan with battery for ~500,000vnd which will add ventilation while the sun in shining, and can charge a battery for use when direct sunlight is limited
Fans are available on lazada

We have only tested a small number of products, the drying times for which can be found here
If you are interested in testing your products you can contact one of the farms with a dryer installed. Additionally, we have a mobile dryer which you can use for 1 month for free except for transportation costs. As a community project, we just ask that you share your results with us so we can continue to improve our model and share our knowledge base. Get in touch if you’re interested in trying out a dryer on your farm!

The solar dryer only works when the temperature inside can reach about 60 degrees, which requires an outdoor temperature above 27 and direct sunlight.
The addition of a fan can facilitate the drying process on cooler and/or cloudy days

If dried correctly to about 10-15% of original water content, most products should have a shelf life of 6+ months (fruits and vegetables)
- We haven’t tested fish yet, so we cannot say. If you’re interested in testing fish and seafood, please get in touch with us or one of the farms with a dryer to try drying your products
To calculate the water content, take a small sample of your product and weight it before you start the drying process. Continue to check on the sample every few hours until the weight is about 10-15% of the original weight. This indicates a fully dried product. Find out more here