If technology of drying for rose can be developed which must be easier, efficient and cheaper then certainly, dehydration industry of floral and its product can provide creative employment to thousands of rural people. A hemi cylindrical solar tunnel dryer for 30kg of rose petals from 83% IMC to 5% FMC within one solar day was developed. The results of no load and full load testing of this dryer revealed that the air temperature inside the dryer increased by 15-20°C as compared to ambient air temperature. The drying of rose petals was found fast and uniform in the northern and southern trays due to rotation of the frame as compared to trays loaded on frames without rotation. Colour, dryness and overall appearance of the petals at the end of drying process was found good as compared to dried petals available in the local market. The estimated payback period of the dryer for rose is about 51 working days. In order to enhance value of dried rose petals, the various products like gulkand, rose sharbat, rose water and dried petals use in sweets were prepared. The quality of the products prepared from dried rose petals was quite impressive as compared to the products from the raw rose.

Tilak Chavda, M.Tech. (Renewable Energy Engineering) with Gold Medal in July 2006. Assistant Professor, College of Agril. Engg. & Tech., Navsari Agricultural University, Dediapada, Gujarat, India since Feb 2014. Worked as Sr. Scientist, Scientific Officer, etc. at Sardar Patel Renewbale Energy Research Institute, Dist. Anand, during 2001 to 2014.