Discover exactly how women in Tunisia are harnessing innovative solar drying out modern technology to end up being entrepreneurs, build lasting incomes, and provide their neighborhoods with healthy food all the time.
By: Takwa Khelifi, Hazar Abdelkafi, Mouhanned Jemli and Mahmoud Hammemi
In the sun-lit areas of Jendouba and Kairouan, women have actually long been the foundation of Tunisia’s farming manufacturing; growing, collecting, and processing food for their households and communities. Yet, despite their essential function, they deal with consistent obstacles: unpredictable climate shocks, minimal accessibility to modern-day tools, and considerable post-harvest losses that can erase months of effort.
In the past, we lost so much of what we grew. The tomatoes would rot, the peppers would ruin– it felt like all our hard work was for absolutely nothing,” says Chadlia, a member of the El-Hana Agricultural Organization in Jendouba.
For females like Chadlia, the intro of the CO-SOLAR dryer, a solar-powered food preservation device, has been nothing except transformative. Provided by the Globe Food Programme (WFP) as component of the Joint Program on Accelerating Development Towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE), this technology is turning difficulties into possibilities, one sun-dried chili at once.
A technology powered by the sun and ladies’s passion
The CO-SOLAR dryer is a game-changer for rural communities. Unlike typical chamsya (outdoor drying out) methods, which leave crops susceptible to dust, insects, and uncertain weather, this hybrid solar-electric clothes dryer ensures quick, sanitary, and regulated drying– day or evening.
Smart, solar-powered drying out with built-in backup. CO-SOLAR utilizes Tunisia’s sunlight effectively, shields produce from parasites and UV damage, and preserves taste and nutrients to satisfy modern food security criteria.
“With the old techniques, drying peppers took days, and half would certainly spoil. Currently, it’s done in hours, and whatever remains tidy. We can also dry out during the night!” adds Chadlia.
The CO-SOLAR clothes dryer is perfect for Tunisia’s sun-rich farming areas like Jendouba and Kairouan, where post-harvest losses get to 30– 40 % for fruits and vegetables (FAO,2021 Its hybrid energy system makes certain reliable operation year-round, minimizing waste and enhancing performance in a field that uses 15 % of the workforce (Globe Financial institution,2023
From subsistence to entrepreneurship
Educating sessions equipped members to run and preserve the equipments, opening up brand-new methods for earnings and leadership.Chadlia explains,
“Before, we marketed our fruit and vegetables fresh and at affordable price,” Currently we can store and offer dried items months later and at great prices.”
By including worth to their harvests, females are moving beyond subsistence farming right into small-scale agribusiness, gaining both economic freedom and confidence. Via hands-on training and access to contemporary processing devices, WFP Tunisia is making it possible for these females to move from subsistence farming to entrepreneurship and regional leadership.
Food Protection and Community Nutrition
CO-SOLAR strengthens food security in rural areas by protecting excess fruit and vegetables and decreasing waste. With dried items available year-round, communities can connect seasonal spaces and improve nourishment consumption of their neighborhoods. For OPAs, it’s an effective device to scale production, make certain quality, accessibility new markets, and minimize expenses while increasing worth.
The introduction of this innovation is producing jobs, enhancing earnings and boosting the economic strength of rural family members. Ladies are stepping into brand-new as business owners, manufacturers, and neighborhood leaders.
Sustainability and Environment Resilience
The CO-SOLAR dryer is created as a lasting agro-processing service that deals with both food waste and ecological obstacles. By counting mostly on solar power, it significantly reduces carbon exhausts contrasted to conventional drying techniques, while its crossbreed system guarantees reputable operation also throughout gloomy periods This straightens with WFP’s dedication to tidy power and climate-resilient food systems, especially in sun-rich regions like Tunisia.
Beyond lowering post-harvest losses, the clothes dryer decreases the requirement for wood or nonrenewable fuel sources, cutting down on smoke pollution and logging stress. Its effective layout not just sustains food protection however likewise advertises eco-friendly methods, making it a sensible, scalable solution for country communities encountering environment challenges.
Looking Ahead: Scaling Impact
With 7 OPAs currently outfitted in 2024 and 4 more set to receive CO-SOLAR clothes dryers in 2025, the programme is currently changing country economic situations in Tunisia. The success in Jendouba and Kairouan is motivating a lot more females to see themselves not equally as farmers, however as entrepreneurs and neighborhood leaders.
As more women gain access to this technology, the advantages ripple external– strengthening food security, minimizing waste, and increasing incomes for whole areas. “This is simply the start,” says Mabrouka, a participant of the GDA El Baraka in Tbainia. “When ladies have the right devices, we can do more than provide for our families– we can develop possibilities for every person around us.”
The CO-SOLAR effort stands as evidence that simple, lasting developments can spark long lasting adjustment. By taking advantage of Tunisia’s abundant sunshine and matching it with women’s determination, the program is turning resilience right into opportunity.
Or, as Chadlia places it: “We have actually always had the sun. Currently, we’re lastly putting it to benefit us.” With each new clothes dryer installed, that vision grows brighter.
The Globe Food Program (WFP)is the world’s biggest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and utilizing food assistance to build a pathway to peace, security and success, for people recouping from problem, disasters and the impact of environment modification. This story is by World Food Programme Tunisia , which is just one of the 120 countries WFP is present in.