Aton Solar Fruit Dryers: Northern Uganda Sustainable Hunger Solution

Photo Credit: Nuts.com

Aton Solar Fruit Dryers: Northern Uganda Sustainable Hunger Solution

Written by Abet Tonny

Elsewhere in the world, some people are drowning in flood whilst in Lango sub-region found in northern part of Uganda, it has now been 7 months of drought, skin-roasting heat, hunger and misery. In March 2018, temperature in Lango went to as high as 109 degrees Fahrenheit. Lango has 1.5 million people and over 90% of the populations rely on farming as major source of livelihood. It had rained for some two days last month -March 2019, few confident farmers had proceeded planted their hybrid seeds following advise from the National Meteorological Authority but to their utter heartbreak when no single rain drop was experienced henceforth. Farmers lost hundred millions of shillings. 

The prices of food grains like maize and beans  -the most consumed food grains in Lango, have sky rocketed with a kilogram of beans going for as high as $0.7 in local currency. Consider the basic fact that the largest number of families in Lango live on less than $1 a day reveals that the all struggle is now feeding, a huge number of children have stopped schooling,for there is no money to pay school fees. Several families can hardly afford a meal a day. With this prolonged sunshine and furious heat, hunger, misery and hopelessness rage even more in this community recovering from 20 years of LRA insurgency 

Child nutrition is the most threatened by this climate change castigated hunger. These children should attend school daily and excel but with empty stomach, this is nothing but a wild dream. According to USAID,  "In Uganda, 2.2 million children under 5 years (29 percent) are stunted because of malnutrition." Unlike adults, a child's body highly demands food to meet bodies growth needs. Robust child nutrition has also been proven to contribute highly to a child's academic excellence, general creativity in life  due to well built brain and body health during childhood and adulthood. But with this raging hunger in the sub-region, there is no hope for children as the government program to promote feeding in school failed to be implemented in major corners of the nation.

Fortunately, after 7 months, the mango season has reached in the sub-region. Children feel relieved as they can have something to negotiate with the stomach's urge for food. The season often lasting for a mere 1 month and children are brought back to usual misery as close to 50% of the mangoes ripening go to waste. There is no available technology to store for longer time or process the mangoes as they almost ripen at the same time.

Aton Wellness has a solution for this. For 5 years now, Aton had been innovating sustainable technologies for farmers including this Solar Fruit Dryers. The dryer is long lasting simple technology with heat concentration, air blowing and drying units where sliced fruits are placed and in 2 days they are fully dry. The dried fruit retains the natural taste and sensation of the parent fruit and can be stored for up to 5 years. Several fruits can be dried using this technology not limited to; mango, jack fruit, banana and pineapple. It takes only 30 minutes to learn how to operate and maintain this Aton Solar Fruit Dryer machine. Very affordable and fit for use even for those remote areas or illiterate users.

Aton Solar Fruit Dryer

Fruits like mangoes are very rich sources of sugar in hunger situation helping boost the energy level. However, fruits are majorly consumed for the anti-oxidants -cancer preventing nutrients in them and Vitamin C which helps in making our skin smooth and good looking. Solar dried fruits retain all these nutritious components.

                        

               See 7 surprising nutritional benefits of eating dried mangoes>>>HERE

Aton Solar Fruit Dryer technology can thus be a great boost for families who value the health of their members as it secures consumption of these healthy fruits beyond the natural ripening season.

Line government agencies and NGOs in nutrition, health and livelihood can promote this technology among local people as they hail the creativity of Uganda's own youth in bringing sustainable food solutions to the nation and globe.

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