Abstract

LOPEZ CERINO, Ignacio  and  CHAVEZ GARCIA, Elsa. Efficiency of tunnel type solar dryer with cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) in Tabasco. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2018, vol.9, n.spe21, pp.4395-4405. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v0i21.1528.

The drying of cocoa in the region of Chontalpa, Tabasco, Mexico carried out by the farmers is mainly done outdoors in a cement yard or in dryers built with wood. With this type of drying there may be contamination with dust, fungi and animals that affect the safety of the dry grain. The beneficiaries of the region use gas as an input for artificial drying, which increases the cost and the ecological footprint of the product obtained. During the dry season the drying process requires up to 3.5 days and in the rainy season few producers carry it out. The present work had as objective to know the efficiency of the drying time of cocoa bean with a polycarbonate tunnel type solar dryer, during the canicular period and the satisfaction of the participant producer, in the region of Chontalpa, Tabasco. A test was conducted in august 2017, with measurement of the atmospheric variables: temperature and relative humidity, in a farm located between the coordinates 18° 0’ 36’’ north latitude and 93° 18’ 18’’ west longitude. The results obtained indicate that in 24 h it is possible to comply with the percentage of moisture in the grain required by the NMX-F-352-S-1980 standard and the satisfaction of the participating producer related to the characteristics of internal and external color, odor, sound, final weight, separation of the husk and presence of fungi of the dry cocoa bean.

Keywords : greenhouse; harmlessness; Theobroma Cacao L.