We use necessary cookies and process data per our KVKK notice.
Food
A small unit that dries fresh peas, beans, cowpeas and broad beans with hot air so they can be sold all year, not only in season.
Where it fits:TürkiyeSyriaYemenMoroccoNigeriaThe GambiaIndonesia
Food
A small unit that dries fresh peas, beans, cowpeas and broad beans with hot air so they can be sold all year, not only in season.
Where it fits:TürkiyeSyriaYemenMoroccoNigeriaThe GambiaIndonesia
Legumes such as peas, cowpeas, green beans and broad beans are grown in large quantities, and any of them can be dried. The main goal of drying is to preserve them and use them throughout the year, not only during the harvest season.
Farmers used to dry legumes in the sun. Today, small hot-air dryers do the job faster, more hygienically and with a more uniform result. The owner buys fresh legumes in season at a low price, cleans, shells and briefly blanches them, dries them, packs them in sealed bags and sells them out of season at a better price.
The business can start with one small dryer and a bag sealer, then add more dryers as demand grows, and later dry other vegetables and herbs (estimate).
The product fills a real off-season need, so it can be profitable if the raw material is bought well in season.
More dryers mean more output and more workers. The owner and one helper are enough at the start (estimate).
Selling a packed food product usually needs a municipal permit for the production place, trade registration and a product label with weight, production date and expiry date. Check local municipality, trade registry and food safety authority requirements, as they differ by country.
Basic hygiene is essential: gloves and hair covers, cleaning trays after each batch and keeping the product away from moisture and pests.
| Equipment | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hot-air tray dryer (stainless trays) | 1 | 10–20 trays, electric or gas, with thermostat; ≈ $900–1,800 (estimate) |
| Bag sealing machine | 1 | Hand or foot heat sealer; ≈ $80–200 (estimate) |
| Digital packing scale | 1 | 1 g accuracy up to 5–10 kg; ≈ $30–60 (estimate) |
| Platform scale for raw material | 1 | Up to 100 kg or more; ≈ $50–120 (estimate) |
| Large pot and gas burner | 1 | For blanching; ≈ $60–150 (estimate) |
| Stainless preparation table | 1 | For sorting and shelling; ≈ $100–200 (estimate) |
| Basins, baskets and strainers | 1 set | For washing and draining; ≈ $40–80 (estimate) |
| Grain moisture meter (optional) | 1 | Checks full dryness; ≈ $40–100 (estimate) |
| Storage shelves and airtight containers | 1 set | ≈ $80–200 (estimate) |
Hot-air tray dryer (stainless trays)
Quantity: 1
10–20 trays, electric or gas, with thermostat; ≈ $900–1,800 (estimate)
Bag sealing machine
Quantity: 1
Hand or foot heat sealer; ≈ $80–200 (estimate)
Digital packing scale
Quantity: 1
1 g accuracy up to 5–10 kg; ≈ $30–60 (estimate)
Platform scale for raw material
Quantity: 1
Up to 100 kg or more; ≈ $50–120 (estimate)
Large pot and gas burner
Quantity: 1
For blanching; ≈ $60–150 (estimate)
Stainless preparation table
Quantity: 1
For sorting and shelling; ≈ $100–200 (estimate)
Basins, baskets and strainers
Quantity: 1 set
For washing and draining; ≈ $40–80 (estimate)
Grain moisture meter (optional)
Quantity: 1
Checks full dryness; ≈ $40–100 (estimate)
Source: Farmers and wholesale markets in season
Cost: ≈ $0.3–1 per kg at peak season (estimate)
Buying at peak season is the key to profit
Source: Packaging suppliers
Cost: ≈ $0.05–0.15 per bag (estimate)
Thick or zip bags are preferred
Source: Local print shop
Cost: ≈ $0.02–0.05 per label (estimate)
Show weight, production and expiry dates
Source: Grid or gas distributor
Cost: ≈ $30–80 per month (estimate)
Depends on the number of batches
İktifa buys the equipment in the owner's name and presence, up to about $2,000. No cash changes hands.
The project starts working before any repayment, with mentoring through the first year.
Instalments follow a schedule agreed with the owner, based on the feasibility study.
Repayments, and 15% of profits to the local fund, equip the next skilled person.
Exact amounts and schedules are agreed for each project after the feasibility study.
Buy fresh legumes at peak season from farmers or wholesale markets and choose sound, full pods and beans.
Remove leaves, damaged beans and dirt, wash in clean water, then shell peas and broad beans or cut green beans into even pieces.
Dip the legumes in boiling water for one to three minutes, then cool them in cold water to keep the colour (estimate).
Drain well and spread the legumes in a thin, even layer on the dryer trays.
Dry at about 55–65 °C for 8–14 hours, rotating the trays, until the beans are hard and fully dry (estimate).
Let the product cool in a dry place and remove any pieces that are not fully dry or are discoloured.
Weigh, pack in sealed bags, add a label with weight and dates, store in a cool dry place and sell throughout the year.
Applicable countries
Large legume output and existing demand, but competing with industrial products needs good quality and packaging.
Suits farming areas and supplies legumes out of season when prices rise; use gas or solar drying to cope with power cuts.
Workable with a solar or gas dryer because of frequent power cuts.
Adapt the product range to locally grown legumes.
Cowpeas and beans are widely grown; solar drying can cut energy costs.
Possible with locally grown cowpeas; demand for packed dried legumes needs checking.
Possible, but local legume types and humid climate need assessment.
Use this project model as the basis of your in-kind support application. Adapt it to your local market and capacity.
Legumes such as peas, cowpeas, green beans and broad beans are grown in large quantities, and any of them can be dried. The main goal of drying is to preserve them and use them throughout the year, not only during the harvest season.
Farmers used to dry legumes in the sun. Today, small hot-air dryers do the job faster, more hygienically and with a more uniform result. The owner buys fresh legumes in season at a low price, cleans, shells and briefly blanches them, dries them, packs them in sealed bags and sells them out of season at a better price.
The business can start with one small dryer and a bag sealer, then add more dryers as demand grows, and later dry other vegetables and herbs (estimate).
The product fills a real off-season need, so it can be profitable if the raw material is bought well in season.
More dryers mean more output and more workers. The owner and one helper are enough at the start (estimate).
Selling a packed food product usually needs a municipal permit for the production place, trade registration and a product label with weight, production date and expiry date. Check local municipality, trade registry and food safety authority requirements, as they differ by country.
Basic hygiene is essential: gloves and hair covers, cleaning trays after each batch and keeping the product away from moisture and pests.
| Equipment | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hot-air tray dryer (stainless trays) | 1 | 10–20 trays, electric or gas, with thermostat; ≈ $900–1,800 (estimate) |
| Bag sealing machine | 1 | Hand or foot heat sealer; ≈ $80–200 (estimate) |
| Digital packing scale | 1 | 1 g accuracy up to 5–10 kg; ≈ $30–60 (estimate) |
| Platform scale for raw material | 1 | Up to 100 kg or more; ≈ $50–120 (estimate) |
| Large pot and gas burner | 1 | For blanching; ≈ $60–150 (estimate) |
| Stainless preparation table | 1 | For sorting and shelling; ≈ $100–200 (estimate) |
| Basins, baskets and strainers | 1 set | For washing and draining; ≈ $40–80 (estimate) |
| Grain moisture meter (optional) | 1 | Checks full dryness; ≈ $40–100 (estimate) |
| Storage shelves and airtight containers | 1 set | ≈ $80–200 (estimate) |
Hot-air tray dryer (stainless trays)
Quantity: 1
10–20 trays, electric or gas, with thermostat; ≈ $900–1,800 (estimate)
Bag sealing machine
Quantity: 1
Hand or foot heat sealer; ≈ $80–200 (estimate)
Digital packing scale
Quantity: 1
1 g accuracy up to 5–10 kg; ≈ $30–60 (estimate)
Platform scale for raw material
Quantity: 1
Up to 100 kg or more; ≈ $50–120 (estimate)
Large pot and gas burner
Quantity: 1
For blanching; ≈ $60–150 (estimate)
Stainless preparation table
Quantity: 1
For sorting and shelling; ≈ $100–200 (estimate)
Basins, baskets and strainers
Quantity: 1 set
For washing and draining; ≈ $40–80 (estimate)
Grain moisture meter (optional)
Quantity: 1
Checks full dryness; ≈ $40–100 (estimate)
Source: Farmers and wholesale markets in season
Cost: ≈ $0.3–1 per kg at peak season (estimate)
Buying at peak season is the key to profit
Source: Packaging suppliers
Cost: ≈ $0.05–0.15 per bag (estimate)
Thick or zip bags are preferred
Source: Local print shop
Cost: ≈ $0.02–0.05 per label (estimate)
Show weight, production and expiry dates
Source: Grid or gas distributor
Cost: ≈ $30–80 per month (estimate)
Depends on the number of batches
İktifa buys the equipment in the owner's name and presence, up to about $2,000. No cash changes hands.
The project starts working before any repayment, with mentoring through the first year.
Instalments follow a schedule agreed with the owner, based on the feasibility study.
Repayments, and 15% of profits to the local fund, equip the next skilled person.
Exact amounts and schedules are agreed for each project after the feasibility study.
Buy fresh legumes at peak season from farmers or wholesale markets and choose sound, full pods and beans.
Remove leaves, damaged beans and dirt, wash in clean water, then shell peas and broad beans or cut green beans into even pieces.
Dip the legumes in boiling water for one to three minutes, then cool them in cold water to keep the colour (estimate).
Drain well and spread the legumes in a thin, even layer on the dryer trays.
Dry at about 55–65 °C for 8–14 hours, rotating the trays, until the beans are hard and fully dry (estimate).
Let the product cool in a dry place and remove any pieces that are not fully dry or are discoloured.
Weigh, pack in sealed bags, add a label with weight and dates, store in a cool dry place and sell throughout the year.
Applicable countries
Large legume output and existing demand, but competing with industrial products needs good quality and packaging.
Suits farming areas and supplies legumes out of season when prices rise; use gas or solar drying to cope with power cuts.
Workable with a solar or gas dryer because of frequent power cuts.
Adapt the product range to locally grown legumes.
Cowpeas and beans are widely grown; solar drying can cut energy costs.
Possible with locally grown cowpeas; demand for packed dried legumes needs checking.
Possible, but local legume types and humid climate need assessment.
Use this project model as the basis of your in-kind support application. Adapt it to your local market and capacity.
Storage shelves and airtight containers
Quantity: 1 set
≈ $80–200 (estimate)
Storage shelves and airtight containers
Quantity: 1 set
≈ $80–200 (estimate)
Türkiye
Syria
Yemen
Morocco
Nigeria
The Gambia
Indonesia