Title: Viability of raisin production by natural drying methods

Authors: David Yuri De Melo Nunes Morais; Acácio Figueiredo Neto; Eder Ignácio De Souza; Lucimar Pacheco Gomes Da Rocha; Victor Oliveira Farias; Carlos Henrique Freitas Alencar

Addresses: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Campus Juazeiro, Federal University of the São Francisco Valley, Juazeiro-BA 48902-300, Brazil ' Department of Agricultural Engineering, Campus Juazeiro, Federal University of the São Francisco Valley, Juazeiro-BA 48902-300, Brazil ' Department of Agricultural Engineering, Campus Juazeiro, Federal University of the São Francisco Valley, Juazeiro-BA 48902-300, Brazil ' Department of Agricultural Engineering, Campus Juazeiro, Federal University of the São Francisco Valley, Juazeiro-BA 48902-300, Brazil ' Department of Agricultural Engineering, Campus Juazeiro, Federal University of the São Francisco Valley, Juazeiro-BA 48902-300, Brazil ' Department of Agricultural Engineering, Campus Juazeiro, Federal University of the São Francisco Valley, Juazeiro-BA 48902-300, Brazil

Abstract: The present study analyses the technical and economic viability of raisin production by natural drying methods. The experiment was performed on a farm in a semiarid region, using two systems: sun drying and shade drying. Agriculture is very dynamic and undergoes constant changes, both technologically and economically, and farmers must be informed to make decisions. Grape drying for raisin production stands out in this context as a low-cost, profitable alternative for growers. In this study, we employed in the farm facilities a costing system based on the use of surplus of table grape production as raw material. Then, we observed quality attributes of the final product that meet current legislation (moisture content below 25%), and drying parameters within the literature range (drying time of 14 days for sun drying and 15 days for shade drying). Economic indices indicated the viability of the venture, with NPV equal to US$ 5,264.38 and 4,363.80, IRR equal to 208.88 and 153.93%, and discounted payback of 0.51 and 0.69 years for sun and shade drying, respectively.

Keywords: investment analysis; Vitis vinifera; sun drying; semiarid.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2022.121872

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2022 Vol.8 No.2/3, pp.158 - 172

Received: 20 Apr 2020
Accepted: 13 May 2021

Published online: 07 Apr 2022 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article