Topic: “Development and Commercialization of Community-Scale  Spray Drying for Milk Processing “

Project Description: 

• Milk production in Nepal is mostly by rural petty farmers and spread out throughout the country.
• Milk products consumed in urban areas comes from rural areas and transportation of liquid milk is difficult and costly.
• Milk gets spoilt during when transportation is difficult and when production in rural areas is higher than demand.
• To meet lean season milk shortage large amount of milk powder has to be imported.
• Community scale milk dryers can, to some extent, fulfill the gap in the demand of powder milk.

Objectives: 

1. To build a commercial prototype of a community scale spray dryer through extensive optimization and testing in laboratory as well as in the field.
2. To initiate a business in small scale milk spray drying technology and similar thermal plants.
3. To establish market, ensure justified profit generation, growth and stability in rural technology-based products.
4. To collaborate the business enterprise thus developed with KU-IRDP/NTIC for continuous R&D for continuous product improvement ensuring research fund input and providing royalty.

Expected Impacts: 

– Socio-economic impact: open new business opportunities among the rural population, financial and technical burden incurred while storing at the chilling center and transportation will be reduced

– Impact on building research capacity: Academic skills development and enhancement in the field of thermal system design, optimization and commercial system design. Enhancement of research culture in the university and R&D efforts with active collaboration between academic institution and industry/business.

 – Technology impact: System and technology developed for Nepali context and market. Uses local fabrication facilities and workmanship. Value of ‘made in Nepal’. Possibilities of Korean technical collaboration for more reliable and efficient product/plant