In a bold move to revolutionse food processing, Emmanuel Thungula founder and CEO of E&D Investments in Lilongwe has innovated solar dryer, poised to transform the agricultural landscape for smallholder farmers.
Established in 2020, E&D Investments addresses the pressing issues of high unemployment rate in the country and post-harvest losses in small holder farmers in the country.
Phiri, a Nutrition and Food Science graduate from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), drew inspiration from the struggles of smallholder farmers.
“Our mission is to empower smallholder farmers, particularly youths and women, to increase productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance value addition through affordable food processing machines,” said Thungula Phiri.
He further said that he thought of coming up with idea for to reach every Malawians even those in rural areas where there is no electricity, they should save their farm produce by using this solar powered.
“The solar dryer is a game-changer. It dries various farm produces, including tomatoes, onions, peppers, bananas, mushrooms, potatoes, fish, and grains, reducing post-harvest losses and increasing shelf life,” said Thungula Phiri.
With this innovation E&D Investments believes that their solar dryer is multifaceted, when it’s on the market it will help to create business opportunities for smallholder farmers, realising more profits within local markets and beyond, processed products have export potential, improving food security and nutrition in Malawi.
However, Thungula Phiri said that they have not started selling, but they have received alot of orders after trying it in different areas in the country.
Joseph Chokochani, a tomato farmer in Mponela, Dowa has hailed the initiative, saying it will help farmers from losses they make after harvesting.
He said: “Ofcourse it’s my first time hearing that I can dry my tomato to keep them for a long, but honestly I like the idea.
“I will buy when on the market and tell them to put on market before I start experiencing the disaster because am soon to start harvesting my tomatoes.”
As E&D Investments continues to innovate, Phiri’s vision is to make food processing accessible, efficient and profitable for smallholder farmers.
