Development of a Low-cost Solar Fish Dryer in Context to Fish Drying in Bangladesh

The constraints of traditional fish drying in Bangladesh have been reviewed and an effective solar fish dryer was developed with the small-scale processors and fishermen using locally available cheaper materials in order to dry fish in coastal region. After successful field testing, new solar dryer was demonstrated within the community in 3 different locations of Cox's Bazar for several batches of operations in each location from late September to March and found very effective in terms of architectural suitability, operational feasibility, technical efficiency, out-put quality (good texture, colour, flavour and long storage time), user's acceptability, commercial viability and environmental adequacy. A simple cost-profit analysis was done with the community operated products, which indicates that the new solar fish dryers could be operated profitably in coastal regions where sun-light and air flows are abundant.