Team members: Nkajja Marvin Peter, Musoke Joel Benedict, Nalule Patricia Kyolaba, Luyima Mark.
Summary:
Renewable Energy is an important concern for sustainable development of the world. Several scientists have exploited these renewable energy sources such as solar energy which has led to the birth of new appliances and improvement in existing appliances such as fans, refrigerators, lights, batteries, driers and pumps. In Uganda, despite the increased milk production, post-harvest milk losses have posed a challenge to the dairy sector. This is largely due to; low shelf life of milk, spillage during transportation, long distances to milk collection points, poor preservation techniques, improper milk handling and low investment. Considering livestock farmers in rural off-the-grid areas, the available would-be efficient technology to preserve the milk is really expensive. Therefore, through the research undertaken and data collected, our team designed a solar milk pasteurizer that efficiently utilizes solar heating and cooling to preserve milk. This will enable efficient preservation of milk in off-the grid areas at a very low cost. It is targeted to solve the problems of preservation and processing on a small scale as well as improving the existing solutions of boiling using firewood, refrigeration and local batch pasteurizers. The solar milk pasteurizer will socially impact the user through improving their quality of life, health and economy. For instance; the pasteurizer can make ready-to-serve milk by-products like yoghurt which could earn the household an income.
#agriculture #Uganda #MakerereUniversity #Solarmilkpasteurizer