Construction of solar fruit dryers in Ayroum, RA
(July-August 2003)
This year, 20 volunteers from US, Canada, UK and France joined volunteers from
Armenia to work on the construction of a solar fruit dryer complex in the
village of Ayroum during the months of July and August.
The village of Ayroum is located in the Lori region, less than 15 Km from the
Georgian border. This haven of peaches and plums used to be the Azeri village
till the late 80s. Now over 800 Armenian refugees from different cities and
villages of Azerbaijan have made this village their new home. However, drought
and economic crises of the 1990s have damaged the hundred acres of lush fruit
trees. These survivors were desperate to work and live in their motherland.
Shen, an indigenous organization had started to train and implement a solar
fruit dryer. The villagers had used this dryer for personal reaps. Within a
year they realized that large-scale production would require a larger dryer
infrastructure. This is how LCO got involved. Our efforts went into completing
this dryer to a) provide employment to more than 20 villagers hence 20 families
and b) helping this vulnerable people to survive and not be forced to leave the
country because of lack of means to work and provide for their families.
The LCO volunteers built two 24 meters' solar dryers. Shen employees helped to
complete the work. Shen has also received funding from the British DFID
(Department For International Development) to allocate land and peach trees to
these villagers. They will care for the peach trees and start selling their
products to the village fruit dryer. Each family will receive 100 acres and 30
trees as a start. They may choose to plant other fruit trees and vegetables on
their land and generate a greater income for themselves.
Ayroum has a very fertile soil and is also close to the border, which
facilitates exportation. By mid summer of 2004, the production and export of
the dried fruit will begin. We will make sure to keep you informed of the
results and how you could purchase these Made in Armenia products.
We would like to here your comments. Tell us what you think about this project
