Mr. Varun Raheja
Director
Raheja Solar Food Processing Pvt Ltd
Raheja Solar Food Processing is a social enterprise, based in Indore, working for the welfare of farmers. We have developed the most affordable solar dries in folding design. This solar drier can be sent to even the remote corners of India owing to its design. It is affordable, so farmers can easily plan for it and reap benefits.
“The aim of our project was to reduce wastage. I am a person passionate about utilizing every bit of what we have. I personally feel that there can be value added products that can be made out of waste. This passion was what led me to this industry and farming was always a soft spot for me” says Varun Raheja, Director of Raheja Solar Food Processing Pvt Ltd.
They manufacture these solar driers and get them to small and marginal farmers who are in need. They train them to use it effectively and get them to understand the products they can make out of it. The farmers are also given an understanding of the products in demand in the market.
“After sales, we also provide buy back. We advise them to dehydrate the produce that they couldn't sell at that moment so that once the price goes up they can sell it as a fresh product. This saves them from throwing away produce that do not get to sell at that moment and also keeps their money intact.”
What crop produces can be dehydrated using the solar drier?
Any crop produce can be dehydrated. We designed the drier so that it produces controlled conditions in which you are able to vaporize the moisture of any product. It can used for tomatoes or any other crops, even for fish or meat. It’s just that the time duration for dehydration differs from product to product.
What is the shelf life of these products?
We have apples and mangoes available which was dehydrated 2-3 years back. Also, these dehydrated products are not refrigerated. It is kept in normal conditions. It is kept in airtight boxes and is kept moisture proof. We retain about 5-10% moisture so that it can be preserved for more than a year. In refrigerated conditions, these products can be retained up to 3 years.
Does the drier come in different capacities?
We have started from 5 kg capacity driers for small-time farmers or any small farmhouse/gardener. Then there are 20 kg capacity driers. These are for farmers who specialize in dried products. Likewise, we have a whole range of capacities to about 1 ton.
Do these driers come with a warranty?
We designed these for remote-area farmers; so the materials we used are locally available and then there is the solar panel. Both these things have more than 5 - 25 years life. The metal body and structure should have regular maintenance every 5 years, which is very low. On a regular basis the product should be kept well cleaned. This maintenance can be done by themselves. Along with the solar manual we give them two manuals - one is for assembly and another for training.
We have installed more than 150 driers now since the last 2 years. We have not gone physically for any of these installations because it is extremely easy to install. Farmers do not have to depend on anybody to install it - it is that simple.
We also provide them with the basic training so that they can use the product without any special training.
What is the price of the drier?
It starts with Rs 5500/- for a 5 kg capacity drier. The 20 kg comes for 14750/-. There are different designs like a poly house drier, which has a capacity of 500kg, which costs Rs 58,000/-.
Do you have anybody other than farmers as customers?
It is mostly farmers, who think innovatively. In every village you will find someone who does unique things. They are mavericks who are open to new technology. Then things spread through word of mouth and a loop is formed. That is our model of selling the product. We haven't invested anything on marketing till date.
Is your drier available in all parts of the country?
Yes, we have sold 150 driers so far which are installed across 23 Indian states. In South India it is quite low compared to other parts.
Do you have branch offices as well?
No, we only worked out of our Indore office. Currently, we are operating in Arunachal Pradesh as well. We are thinking of working within the network of North Eastern states too. That is where you will have the best produce in India. But, the market prices are too low and they seem detached from the rest of the country.
If one needs to set up a bulk order with Raheja Solar Food Processing, say 10 driers of 20 kg each, how much time would it take to for you to deliver?
For someone new, we would always recommend to go for single driers. Use the drier, feel the confidence and then ramp up to the scale. It would take about 10 days for the driers to be sent to you and you can start the project as soon as possible.
Also, we help with B2B marketing and you can go for B2C channels as well.
How would you compare Raheja Solar Food Processing sun drier in terms of others manufactured around the globe?
We manufactured this product with the idea that farmers should be provided with some simple preservation technology, so that we reduce post-harvest losses. Initially, we didn't intend to manufacture it ourselves. We thought of procuring it from the market. But, we realized that the bulk of sun driers are manufactured for those farmers who have good money.
But 85% farmers are small and marginal. So, we designed these with them in mind. Ours is not a complex model with many sensors etc. It is a very simple model. The 2 things that we kept in mind while designing it are:
Affordable for farmers
No extra cost attached to it - the transportation cost for a drier is usually Rs.1500/- to Rs.2000/- for a 1000 km distance. Normally for other driers the transportation cost alone would be around Rs.5000 - 6000/-. With the folding design in place the transportation charge could be minimized.
There are hundreds of companies out there in the market but we were the first to be recognized by the UN organization simply because we are working for the people in need and not for the money. Also, we have been around only for the last 2 years.
Are you receiving any Government subsidies for this product?
No, not yet. The Arunachal Pradesh government is working hard for the development of farmers. We may soon land a subsidy over there.
Please share a real life example of the effectiveness of this product on a farm?
One of success stories that is closest to my heart is this story from Manipur. In the June-July period I sold 3 driers over there to a processing person who is into welfare of farmers as well. There the rate of each pineapple is around Rs 10/- There is a person who airlifts this pineapple produce to Delhi and Mumbai.
In the retail market each pineapple sells at the rate of Rs.150/- and it is the most delicious variety of pineapple. It is called the Victoria Queen Pineapples. Farmers get just Rs.10 for this produce. When we process these pineapples at the farm itself, the same pineapple gets sold in Delhi agri stores at the rate of Rs.200/- per 100 grams and farmers reap major benefits out of this.
Also, 50% of their produce used to get spoiled because of the weather or local transportation process. Now, with our technology we are able to provide farmers about Rs.20-30 for each pineapple. This the kind of benefit that we can help with. The difference is we are not pressed for time when it comes to dried produce but the fresh produce should reach the market in 2 days.
Is there any difference when it comes to processing organic and inorganic products?
No, not in terms of process. But, eating inorganic vegetables is not as fulfilling as organic produce. The nutritious level is extremely high in the organic version. This dehydration process doesn't affect the nutrient value of the crop. So, that way whatever difference is there in the fresh organic versus inorganic produce is retained in the dried versions too.
What should somebody new buying your product be aware of and prepared for at their end?
The most important thing that I have figured out in the last two years is that when we talk about dehydration or preservation, we always try to minimize our logistics cost. We advice people to use the product to dehydrate the produce that is local to the location. A person in Indore can see that we are selling dry kiwi at the rate of Rs.4000/- per kg. He may try to dry kiwi available in his area and sell it at the same rate. That wouldn't be a sustainable model. In my opinion, each and every part of the country, according to the soil and environmental conditions, should go for produce that can be easily grown in their area and marketed easily. There is a peak season when the farmer needs the technology the most and as an agripreneur also needs that benefit. So, both parties get benefited.
We have onions that we dehydrated at the time when onion rates were Re.1- Rs.2. We sold it at the end of the year at the rate was Rs.60/-. That is about 120 times the benefit.
So, if local produce is dehydrated, the logistics cost will be kept minimal and farmers can come with the organic produce if agripreneurs aim at the local produce. You can do organic cultivation only under natural circumstances.
What are your future plans?
We have our eyes on the export market because our target is to reach 2 lakh farmers in 5 years. That will be a lot of produce we are aiming at. So, we are working hard to make our technology and products extremely hygienic and healthy so that we can align with the organic segment as well. That is what foreign countries look for.
We want to create micro-food processing unit for small farmers through FPOs majorly because FPOs are networked to around 1000 farmers each. So, our plan is to network with FPOs that are connected to 1000 farmers so that our reach is wider. We plan on working with them to connect our micro-food processing unit with the macro economy. This goes for the export and retail market. That is our vision for the future.
Contact :
Varun Raheja
Company Raheja solar food processing Pvt. Ltd
Street M. G road
City - Indore
Zip code - 452001
State- Madhya Pradesh
Phone-9039022866.
Email solar.rsfp@gmail.com
Director
Raheja Solar Food Processing Pvt Ltd
Raheja Solar Food Processing is a social enterprise, based in Indore, working for the welfare of farmers. We have developed the most affordable solar dries in folding design. This solar drier can be sent to even the remote corners of India owing to its design. It is affordable, so farmers can easily plan for it and reap benefits.
“The aim of our project was to reduce wastage. I am a person passionate about utilizing every bit of what we have. I personally feel that there can be value added products that can be made out of waste. This passion was what led me to this industry and farming was always a soft spot for me” says Varun Raheja, Director of Raheja Solar Food Processing Pvt Ltd.
They manufacture these solar driers and get them to small and marginal farmers who are in need. They train them to use it effectively and get them to understand the products they can make out of it. The farmers are also given an understanding of the products in demand in the market.
“After sales, we also provide buy back. We advise them to dehydrate the produce that they couldn't sell at that moment so that once the price goes up they can sell it as a fresh product. This saves them from throwing away produce that do not get to sell at that moment and also keeps their money intact.”
What crop produces can be dehydrated using the solar drier?
Any crop produce can be dehydrated. We designed the drier so that it produces controlled conditions in which you are able to vaporize the moisture of any product. It can used for tomatoes or any other crops, even for fish or meat. It’s just that the time duration for dehydration differs from product to product.
What is the shelf life of these products?
We have apples and mangoes available which was dehydrated 2-3 years back. Also, these dehydrated products are not refrigerated. It is kept in normal conditions. It is kept in airtight boxes and is kept moisture proof. We retain about 5-10% moisture so that it can be preserved for more than a year. In refrigerated conditions, these products can be retained up to 3 years.
Does the drier come in different capacities?
We have started from 5 kg capacity driers for small-time farmers or any small farmhouse/gardener. Then there are 20 kg capacity driers. These are for farmers who specialize in dried products. Likewise, we have a whole range of capacities to about 1 ton.
Do these driers come with a warranty?
We designed these for remote-area farmers; so the materials we used are locally available and then there is the solar panel. Both these things have more than 5 - 25 years life. The metal body and structure should have regular maintenance every 5 years, which is very low. On a regular basis the product should be kept well cleaned. This maintenance can be done by themselves. Along with the solar manual we give them two manuals - one is for assembly and another for training.
We have installed more than 150 driers now since the last 2 years. We have not gone physically for any of these installations because it is extremely easy to install. Farmers do not have to depend on anybody to install it - it is that simple.
We also provide them with the basic training so that they can use the product without any special training.
What is the price of the drier?
It starts with Rs 5500/- for a 5 kg capacity drier. The 20 kg comes for 14750/-. There are different designs like a poly house drier, which has a capacity of 500kg, which costs Rs 58,000/-.
Do you have anybody other than farmers as customers?
It is mostly farmers, who think innovatively. In every village you will find someone who does unique things. They are mavericks who are open to new technology. Then things spread through word of mouth and a loop is formed. That is our model of selling the product. We haven't invested anything on marketing till date.
Is your drier available in all parts of the country?
Yes, we have sold 150 driers so far which are installed across 23 Indian states. In South India it is quite low compared to other parts.
Do you have branch offices as well?
No, we only worked out of our Indore office. Currently, we are operating in Arunachal Pradesh as well. We are thinking of working within the network of North Eastern states too. That is where you will have the best produce in India. But, the market prices are too low and they seem detached from the rest of the country.
If one needs to set up a bulk order with Raheja Solar Food Processing, say 10 driers of 20 kg each, how much time would it take to for you to deliver?
For someone new, we would always recommend to go for single driers. Use the drier, feel the confidence and then ramp up to the scale. It would take about 10 days for the driers to be sent to you and you can start the project as soon as possible.
Also, we help with B2B marketing and you can go for B2C channels as well.
How would you compare Raheja Solar Food Processing sun drier in terms of others manufactured around the globe?
We manufactured this product with the idea that farmers should be provided with some simple preservation technology, so that we reduce post-harvest losses. Initially, we didn't intend to manufacture it ourselves. We thought of procuring it from the market. But, we realized that the bulk of sun driers are manufactured for those farmers who have good money.
But 85% farmers are small and marginal. So, we designed these with them in mind. Ours is not a complex model with many sensors etc. It is a very simple model. The 2 things that we kept in mind while designing it are:
Affordable for farmers
No extra cost attached to it - the transportation cost for a drier is usually Rs.1500/- to Rs.2000/- for a 1000 km distance. Normally for other driers the transportation cost alone would be around Rs.5000 - 6000/-. With the folding design in place the transportation charge could be minimized.
There are hundreds of companies out there in the market but we were the first to be recognized by the UN organization simply because we are working for the people in need and not for the money. Also, we have been around only for the last 2 years.
Are you receiving any Government subsidies for this product?
No, not yet. The Arunachal Pradesh government is working hard for the development of farmers. We may soon land a subsidy over there.
Please share a real life example of the effectiveness of this product on a farm?
One of success stories that is closest to my heart is this story from Manipur. In the June-July period I sold 3 driers over there to a processing person who is into welfare of farmers as well. There the rate of each pineapple is around Rs 10/- There is a person who airlifts this pineapple produce to Delhi and Mumbai.
In the retail market each pineapple sells at the rate of Rs.150/- and it is the most delicious variety of pineapple. It is called the Victoria Queen Pineapples. Farmers get just Rs.10 for this produce. When we process these pineapples at the farm itself, the same pineapple gets sold in Delhi agri stores at the rate of Rs.200/- per 100 grams and farmers reap major benefits out of this.
Also, 50% of their produce used to get spoiled because of the weather or local transportation process. Now, with our technology we are able to provide farmers about Rs.20-30 for each pineapple. This the kind of benefit that we can help with. The difference is we are not pressed for time when it comes to dried produce but the fresh produce should reach the market in 2 days.
Is there any difference when it comes to processing organic and inorganic products?
No, not in terms of process. But, eating inorganic vegetables is not as fulfilling as organic produce. The nutritious level is extremely high in the organic version. This dehydration process doesn't affect the nutrient value of the crop. So, that way whatever difference is there in the fresh organic versus inorganic produce is retained in the dried versions too.
What should somebody new buying your product be aware of and prepared for at their end?
The most important thing that I have figured out in the last two years is that when we talk about dehydration or preservation, we always try to minimize our logistics cost. We advice people to use the product to dehydrate the produce that is local to the location. A person in Indore can see that we are selling dry kiwi at the rate of Rs.4000/- per kg. He may try to dry kiwi available in his area and sell it at the same rate. That wouldn't be a sustainable model. In my opinion, each and every part of the country, according to the soil and environmental conditions, should go for produce that can be easily grown in their area and marketed easily. There is a peak season when the farmer needs the technology the most and as an agripreneur also needs that benefit. So, both parties get benefited.
We have onions that we dehydrated at the time when onion rates were Re.1- Rs.2. We sold it at the end of the year at the rate was Rs.60/-. That is about 120 times the benefit.
So, if local produce is dehydrated, the logistics cost will be kept minimal and farmers can come with the organic produce if agripreneurs aim at the local produce. You can do organic cultivation only under natural circumstances.
What are your future plans?
We have our eyes on the export market because our target is to reach 2 lakh farmers in 5 years. That will be a lot of produce we are aiming at. So, we are working hard to make our technology and products extremely hygienic and healthy so that we can align with the organic segment as well. That is what foreign countries look for.
We want to create micro-food processing unit for small farmers through FPOs majorly because FPOs are networked to around 1000 farmers each. So, our plan is to network with FPOs that are connected to 1000 farmers so that our reach is wider. We plan on working with them to connect our micro-food processing unit with the macro economy. This goes for the export and retail market. That is our vision for the future.
Contact :
Varun Raheja
Company Raheja solar food processing Pvt. Ltd
Street M. G road
City - Indore
Zip code - 452001
State- Madhya Pradesh
Phone-9039022866.
Email solar.rsfp@gmail.com