In the heart of rural India, where farmers often watch their hard-earned crops perish due to inadequate storage and market delays, a revolutionary idea took root. Led by Vaibhav Tidke and his six college friends, Moomba is turning agricultural loss into opportunity through the power of the sun — literally.

Using a patented technology called the Solar Conduction Dryer (SCD), the team is helping transform perishable and damaged crops into high-quality, shelf-stable food ingredients. But that’s not all — this venture is also empowering over 3000 women and has scaled into a ₹200 crore startup with global impact.

The Spark Behind the Idea

The story of Moomba began with a question: Why do Indian farmers lose nearly 40% of their produce post-harvest?

As an engineer from ICT Mumbai, Vaibhav Tidke had always been passionate about innovation that served a social purpose. Along with his peers, he saw an opportunity to tackle both food wastage and farmer debt through a simple, scalable idea — dehydrating excess or substandard crops before they rot.

The group developed a patented Solar Conduction Dryer, which dries fruits, vegetables, and spices using solar energy, preserving nutrients while extending shelf life up to a year.

What Is the Solar Conduction Dryer (SCD)?

Unlike conventional sun drying, which is inconsistent and vulnerable to contamination, the SCD uses solar heat in a closed, controlled environment. The device requires no electricity, making it ideal for remote villages with erratic power supply.

It's portable, low-maintenance, and affordable, which means it can be deployed across thousands of small farms and homes. Within hours, excess produce — from tomatoes to turmeric — is converted into dehydrated, preservable, and saleable goods.

From Waste to Wealth

India’s small farmers often have to sell surplus or blemished produce at throwaway prices — or worse, dump it. Through Moomba’s model, these same crops are now processed into high-value powders, slices, and flakes that can be sold to food processors, retail chains, and even exported.

For instance, slightly bruised mangoes can be turned into mango powder, and surplus leafy vegetables into nutrient-rich green flakes.

Women at the Heart of the Mission

A major pillar of Moomba’s success has been the mobilisation of rural women’s self-help groups (SHGs).

Moomba provides solar dryers and training to women across Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, and other states. These women now run small units, drying and packaging produce, earning a regular income and gaining financial independence.

Over 3000 women have been trained and onboarded into this decentralized production model — and they’re not just workers, they’re micro-entrepreneurs.

Scaling Up Sustainably

Today, Moomba's products reach over 15 countries, supplying to clients in the nutraceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. Their ingredient line includes solar-dried ginger, moringa, tulsi, amla, banana, and chilli — all traceable back to individual farms.

From a humble garage setup, Moomba has grown into a ₹200 crore business, with processing hubs, R&D labs, and international certifications.

The company also partners with agri universities, NGOs, and government agencies, multiplying its reach and scaling training programs for farmers and women.

Real Impact

  • Reduced post-harvest loss by 30-50% in areas with dryer units

  • Improved incomes by 2x to 3x for participating farmers and SHGs

  • Empowered rural women, offering dignified, home-based employment

  • Created a market for ‘ugly’ produce, reducing farm-level discrimination

  • Offset carbon footprint by replacing electric dryers with solar tech

The Road Ahead

Moomba is not resting on its success. With new funding and growing demand for clean-label, traceable food ingredients, the startup is working on:

  • Launching consumer-facing brands using solar-dried ingredients

  • Expanding its solar dryer network to 10,000 villages

  • Adding AI and blockchain for supply chain transparency

Conclusion

Moomba’s journey is a powerful example of how simple innovation, rooted in empathy and driven by science, can change lives.

By harnessing the sun and empowering women, this homegrown enterprise has created a self-sustaining ecosystem that touches farming, nutrition, climate, and gender equality — all from something as basic as drying fruits and vegetables.

As India looks toward a future of sustainable agriculture and inclusive growth, startups like Moomba prove that the solutions may already be in our hands — or rather, under our sun.