ACCEPTABILITY DIAGNOSIS AND RELEVANCE OF LOW COST TECHNOLOGY IN SMALL RURAL PROPERTIES OF ARAPONGAS MUNICIPALITY, MICROREGION APUCARANA DE-PR

Abstract

The objective of this study is to ascertain the acceptability and usefulness of a low cost solar dryer for dehydration of food on small farms, both conventional agriculture, as agricultural settlement, as an alternative income for small farmers in the region Arapongas-PR. therefore, a study was conducted through interviews with farmers in that region, where it was identified the main difficulties these farmers, and also qualified and quantified the main food produced in the properties, the intention of investing in new equipment, and which equipment would be interested in purchasing, and losses of products in the property and on-site shops, and the main ways to get around them. Based on this diagnosis, measured up the knowledge that small farmers had about solar dryer and dehydrated products. It was concluded that foods produced have a potential market for dehydration, but there is a need to mobilize farmers through courses or textbooks before proposing the use of the equipment. Also realized that the local farmers have greater interest in using new technologies, such as the solar dryer, and are more open to changes as compared to conventional farmers.