A Solar-Electric Maize Dryer for Small-Holder Farmers in Ghana

Maize is the most common grain crop grown in Ghana and other parts of the world. Currently, Ghanaian farmers struggle with managing their grains post-harvest. This results in the loss of grain due to spoilage. The main reason is the inability to dry the grain effectively, especially during the first planting season. A solar electric maize dryer will ensure that improved-quality maize is sold. Since the dryer will use sensors, it will be able to detect when the maize is dry, eliminating the need for human assumptions that may be inaccurate. Moreover, aflatoxin (fungi rot) in maize is encouraged through a moisture content greater than 13%. The current competitor to this project is the most common ‘sundrying’ method. Admittedly, it is the most economical – but it loses its competitive edge when this new device's effectiveness, speed, and accuracy are considered. Other devices are costly and utilize heavy machinery for drying maize. The project's primary objective is the design and simulation of the electric maize dyer. Following this, an electronic prototype was devised to portray the product's functionality. An Arduino nano was used as the central microcontroller of the product. Fusion 360 was used to construct the electric maize dryer and to run weight, heat, and thermal stress analysis simulations.