AICAD Tanzania country Office (TCO) conducted a grass root training on safety and quality postharvest handling and processing of spices using an innovative hybrid solar-gas solar dryer in kinole ward, morogoro rural from 10th to 12th September 2025. The training aimed at enabling spices’ farmers in Kinole Ward to reduce post-harvest losses and produce safe and quality products that meet regulatory and quality standard requirements
Course Content
The course covered various aspects on postharvest handling and processing spices both in theory, practical and a field trip. The topics covered included:-
- Spices as a strategic crops in Tanzania in the overall economy
- Challenges in the Tanzania spice industry
- Challenges in spice processing in Kinole Ward
- Safety and quality aspects, standards and market requirements
- Spices quality and pricing
- Drying parameters and control for high quality product
- Efficient time saving dryer-hybrid solar-gas dryer
- Installation, operation, care and maintenance of a hybrid Solar – Gas dryer
Resource Persons
Resource persons were drawn from a pool of experts in food science and technology from SUA; Kihonda Food Processing Vocational Education Training Centre (KFPVTC). Another one was an expert in Carpentry fine art from Lekat Woodworks; and an Agriculture extension officer from Kinole Ward. Topics on postharvest handling and processing were covered by experts from SUA and KFPVTC. Agriculture extension officer covered the aspect of crop husbandry whereas expert in Carpentry covered aspects of installations, operations, care and maintenance of an Hybrid Solar-Gas Dryer
Closing Ceremony and Handing over a Hybrid Solar- Gas Dryer to Muungngano group
A Closing ceremony of a grass root training that involved 17 spice farmers under Muungano group; and a Ward Agriculture Extension Officer was officially closed on 12th September 2025. The closing ceremony was graced by the Chief Guest Mr. Habibu Hamis – Morogoro (R) Distict Agriculture and Livestock Development Officer, who represented the Morogoro District Commissioner. In his speech the chief guest praised AICAD for its initiative and challenged the group to train others outside their group. Prior to a closing ceremony, the chief guest handed over an Hybrid Solar – Gas Dryer, donated by AICAD Tanzania to Muungano spice farmer’s group – Kinole, Morogoro Rural.
