*4.1.1 Direct type solar dryer*

This is a form of the solar dryer where the radiation from the sun is used directly incident on the grains to be drained. The dryers are quite simple in structure, less expensive, little or no maintenance needed, and also simple to use. It can be fabricated with a wooden box with a glass cover and some holes for air entrance and exit also. After the usage of the direct type of solar dryers, the food products are usually

not very nice in appearance, color, texture, and with a reduced nutritional quality. In direct-type solar drying, produces to be dried are spread on the ground or mats exposed directly to the sun to absorb solar radiation. As noted by [23], sun-dried grains are prone to high crop losses due to:


iv.Proliferation of micro-organisms and possible toxin production.

These challenges have led to the development of other drying techniques like solar drying to overcome the aforementioned challenges. Solar dryers have faster rates, better efficiency, more hygienic with less crop losses when compared to sun drying [23].
