Adding Value to Agricultural Products Using Solar Energy

The research project will be the initial step to the newly created “solar food processing network” where interested parties (like members of ISES - The International Solar Energy Society and Solare Brücke) from all over the world met at a summer school in Kassel in 2010. Former research projects from the University of Kassel Agri-Engineering Department showed that this new approach easily generates small-scale enterprises. Experienced researchers from Pakistan and Kenya will further develop this idea and adapt the technology to the specific needs of their home countries.

Rural development through solar energy can easily be achieved by harvesting solar energy and utilizing this source in developing small scale agro-based industry in the vicinity of villages.

• Munir, A., O. Hensel, W. Scheffler, H. Hoedt, A. Ghafoor, W. Amjad. 2014. Design, development and experimental results of a solar based distillery for the essential oils extraction from medicinal plants.Elsevier 108:548-559.

• Munir, A., J.Z. Alvi, S. Qasim, A. Ghafoor 2014. Performance evaluation of a biomass boiler on the basis of heat loss method and total heat values of steam. Pak. J Agri. Sci.  51(1):209-215.
  
  
• Munir, A., U. Sultan and Muhammad Iqbal., 2013, Development and performance evaluation of a locally fabricated portable solar tunnel dryer for drying of fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants,, Pak. J Agri. Sci.,, 50(3), 495-498.
  
  
• Munir, A., A. Ullah,  M. U. Ghani, M. Iqbal, M. Ahmad. 2012. Performance evaluation and simulation of photovoltaic powered water pumping system, Pak. j. life soc. Sci., 10(2): 166-171.
  
  
• Munir, A., M.A. Ashraf, A. Nasir, O. Hensel, M. Iqbal. 2012. Ergonomics and occupational health in sugar industry of Pakistan, Pak. j. life soc. Sci., 10(1):74-79