Skip to content Skip to navigation

Nanotechnology based Solar Dryer and Electric Smoker developed by AdtU & NERAMAC

By AT News |

Two innovative food processors namely a ‘Solar Drier’ and an ‘Electrical Smoker’ developed jointly by Assam down town University (AdtU) and North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC) were inaugurated at National Agri Horticultural Show 2021 on 21 January being held at Bokakhat, in Golaghat district of Assam by Atul Bora, Minister of Agriculture, Horticulture & Food Processing, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Govt of Assam. 

The processors were developed under an MoU signed between these two leading organisations. 

Talking to Assam Times, Dr Sunandan Baruah, Dean of Engineering & Technology and head of the innovation team of AdtU said, "The Nanotechnology based Solar Dryer uses an indirect heating technique to collect solar phonons and heat up a closed chamber which can be used for drying fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, etc. The prototype is equipped with 3 heating trays of dimension 2 feet by 2 feet. A typical outside temperature of 28oC can generate a chamber temperature of about 75 oC. The chamber temperature can be controlled using an electronic controlling system to maintain the taste and aroma. The drying trays are given an antifungal/antimicrobial nanocoating to ensure that the products that are dried are free from bacteria and fungi. The design can be scaled up/down to customize to user needs."

"On the other hand, the Electric Smoker is designed to smoke agricultural/horticultural/Meat/Fish produce to add flavour and ensure long shelf life. The traditional way of smoking creates carcinogenic compounds which can lead to health issues when consumed. The smoker designed at AdtU minimize the production of carcinogenic aromatic compounds and ensure safety of consumption of the smoked products. The smoker can also be used as a electric grill. The trays are coated with bio safe nanomaterials to ensure that fungal and microbial growth does not take place and the products have enhanced shelf life. The smoking can be carried out using wood dust from different plants, especially hard wood of fruit trees", Dr Baruah added.

The machines were also demonstrated before Rajesh Prasad, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Assam; Akashdeep, IAS, Commissioner & Director, Agriculture, Assam. Few Ambassadors of African Nations also admired the prototypes and evinced interest in taking the technologies to Ghana. NERAMAC Managing Director Manoj Kumar Das and Dr Sunandan Baruah, Dean of Engineering & Technology, AdtU were present with their respective teams. 

It may be mentioned that NERAMAC, which is the only PSU to have 13 GI registrations in the world, which is for farmers’ benefit. NERAMAC participated in National Agri Horticulture Show 2021 with seven entrepreneurs from North East India. 

NER is a Bio Diversity Hot Spot of the World and due to its exotic eco system has evolved rich flora and fauna. It is rich in fruits and vegetables like Banana, Jackfruit, Areca-nut, Cashew-nut, Litchi, Orange, Star Fruit, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Sweet Potato, Tapioca, Tomato, Brinjal, Pumpkin, Wood Apple,  Bitter Gourd,  in large quantities and exotic fruits and vegetables like Elephant Apple, Tamarind, Plum, Olive, Assam Lemon, Ash Guard, Passion fruit, Drumstick, Hibiscus etc. and spices like Large Cardamom, Ginger, Turmeric, Chillies, Black Pepper, Star Anish, Jabrang, Alpena Galenga, Bay leaves, Long Pepper, Pipli, Cinnamon etc. It is also very rich in Medicinal & Aromatic Plants like Amla, Ashwagandha, Curry Leaves, Sugandh Mantri, Harad, Bhumura etc. It also of late started adopting high value exotic fruits like Dragon Fruit, Strawberry, Cocoa, Apple Plum etc. which is giving additional income to the farmers. NERAMAC has been procuring, processing and marketing these products through out the country through its marketing network.

Much of these above produces are wasted or are sold at throw away prices due to lack of primary processing, storage, conversion to products etc. These innovative processors are desired to be placed at household level to imbibe a culture of value addition at farm gate. This will help aggregation and marketing at scaled up level.Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Minister suggested development of a drier for reducing moisture in Assam Rice. 

  • 18035 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Assam Among Bottom Five States in Health, Education and Economy

Assam has been ranked among the bottom five states of the country in crucial development indicators including health, education and economic growth, according to a fresh NITI Aayog assessment. The report placed Assam 26th in health and well-being, 25th in education, and 23rd in economic development. On gender equality and zero hunger, the state was positioned at 25th and 22nd respectively. The poor performance has raised concern over the state’s planning and budgetary priorities, despite official claims of inclusive growth. Experts have pointed out that school enrolment, institutional health services and poverty reduction continue to remain below the national average. NITI Aayog’s...

Rotary Club of Guwahati and NERAMAC Distribute Saplings, Launch Tree Plantation Drive

Guwahati, August 23: The Rotary Club of Guwahati, in collaboration with the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd. (NERAMAC), organized a major plantation and sapling distribution initiative this week. On Tuesday, August 21, a total of 3,000 medicinal and fruit-bearing saplings were distributed among local villagers of Bijoynagar and adjoining areas at the premises of 28 Nahira Primary School and Kongdang Primary School. The program witnessed enthusiastic participation from villagers, teachers, Rotarians, and NERAMAC officials. Continuing the green initiative, a tree plantation drive was also conducted on Friday, August 22, at the NERAMAC office premises...

PEC Condemns Misuse of PRESS Emblem and Ongoing Journalist Killings

The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a global media safety and rights organization, has strongly condemned the misuse of the “PRESS” symbol by armed combatants in conflict zones such as Syria and Gaza. The PEC expressed deep concern over incidents where individuals posing as journalists have used the emblem as a shield for violent activities. In southern Syria, Islamist fighters were seen wearing jackets marked “PRESS” while vandalizing a Druze household in Suwayda, as shown in a widely circulated video on social media. While PEC cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video, it emphasizes that under no circumstances should the press emblem be used as cover for armed combatants...

Dramatic rise in the number of journalists killed in six months

The number of journalists killed worldwide has surged dramatically in the first half of 2025, according to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC). Since January, 86 media workers have been killed across 26 countries, marking a 16% increase compared to the same period last year. Gaza: Epicenter of the Crisis The ongoing conflict in Gaza is the primary driver behind this spike. At least 31 Palestinian journalists were killed in six months by the Israeli army, accounting for more than a third of the global toll. “The Israeli government is directly responsible for this tragedy, which targets civilians reporting on the situation in Gaza. The Israeli soldiers involved in these war crimes must...

Capacity-Building Workshop Empowers Assam and Meghalaya Communities for Sustainable Development

Guwahati: – A transformative capacity-building workshop, “Learning from the Land: Participatory Knowledge Harvest from Assam and Meghalaya,” was held at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati Off-Campus, on Friday, June 27, 2025. Organized by TISS in collaboration with UNDP-SGP, the event brought together over 50 NGOs from Assam and Meghalaya to exchange grassroots knowledge and strategies for sustainable land use, agroecological practices, and environmental conservation. The workshop aimed to empower local communities by enhancing skills in biodiversity conservation, land restoration, rural development, sustainability, and climate change adaptation. Prof. Jagannath Ambagudia...

Assam's Tea Workers’ Health Crisis, with Average Body Weight Below 50 kg

Guwahati: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has accused the BJP-led state government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of driving tea garden workers into a severe health crisis, with the average worker’s body weight dropping below 50 kg due to malnutrition and anemia. In a press conference on Wednesday at Rajiv Bhawan, APCC Working President Roselina Tirkey, joined by tea tribe leaders Raju Sahu, Etowa Munda, and Pranjal Ghatowar, condemned the government for neglecting workers’ welfare and plotting to dismantle Assam’s tea industry. Raju Sahu emphasized the alarming health decline, stating that malnutrition and anemia have rendered many tea workers unfit to donate blood...

Stolen Lands, Broken Lives: How Assam’s Khilonjiya Pay the Price for Corporate Development

In Assam, the land of the Brahmaputra, tea gardens, and vibrant indigenous cultures, a troubling pattern has emerged. The state’s push for development—solar plants, thermal power stations, cement factories, and urban restoration—has come at a devastating cost to its original inhabitants, the Khilonjiya. These indigenous communities, including Karbi, Bodo, Dimasa, and Adivasi, are being displaced from their ancestral lands to make way for wealthy industrialists and corporate giants like Adani. While rich outsiders are welcomed with open arms, the Khilonjiya bear the burden of uprooted lives, lost livelihoods, and erased heritage. This blog chronicles few recent land disputes, exposing the...

AAEA demands accountability for mishaps in 'abandoned' oil/gas wells

Guwahati: Expressing concern over the Sivasagar crude-oil well gas leakage in the last few days, a northeast India based forum of graduate engineers have urged both Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL) to come clear about the so-called ‘abandoned’ wells, which have the potential to harm human life, property and environment, as the concerned private parties operating such wells often do not come forward to take responsibility.  All Assam Engineers Association (AAEA), in a statement, also appealed to the Union government in New Delhi to hold the concerned ONGC/OIL  officials accountable for any disaster at an oil or gas well after having declared it '...

Gaurav Gogoi and the Politics of Dependency: A Challenge to Assam’s Debt-Driven Welfare Model

On May 26, 2025, Gaurav Gogoi, a three-time MP and son of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, was appointed President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC). His appointment marked a generational shift in Assam’s Congress leadership and was seen as a strategic move to reinvigorate the party ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Gogoi’s clean image, recent Lok Sabha victory from Jorhat by a margin of 1.44 lakh votes, and appeal among youth positioned him as a serious contender against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Gogoi's appointment replaces Bhupen Kumar Borah and is backed by a team of working presidents including Jakir Hussain Sikdar, Roselina Tirkey, and Pradip Sarkar....

The Human Toll of Gas Leaks in Assam: Comparing the Baghjan Disaster (2020) and the Ongoing ONGC Sivasagar Crisis (2025)

Assam, a state rich in natural resources, has faced recurring nightmares from its oil and gas industry, with devastating impacts on its people and environment. The Baghjan gas leak of 2020, operated by Oil India Limited (OIL), and the ongoing ONGC gas leak in Sivasagar (June 2025), operated by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), are stark reminders of the human cost of industrial mishaps. This blog post delves into the profound effects on common people in both incidents, compares their timelines for containment, and highlights the urgency of addressing systemic issues to prevent future tragedies. The Baghjan Gas Leak (2020): A 173-Day Ordeal On May 27, 2020, a catastrophic blowout...