Mr. Vikrant P. Katekar will present his APS as per the details below:

Date: Monday, February 16, 2026
 

Time:  1600 – 1700 hrs.
 

Venue: C-TARA Conference Room No.1

Title: Solar Thermal Hydrodistillation System for Rosewater Production: A Decentralised Solar Technology for Quality-assured, Value-added Product and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods
 

Guides: Prof. Anand B. Rao, Prof. Vishal R. Sardeshpande
 

RPC Members: Prof. Sanjay Mahajani, Prof. Bakul Rao

Abstract:

India continues to experience substantial post-harvest losses of agricultural produce, with annual losses exceeding ₹1.5 lakh crore by 2025. Inadequate storage infrastructure and limited processing facilities are major contributors to these losses. The problem is particularly severe in floriculture, where approximately 40% of total production is wasted. Rose flowers are highly perishable, with a shelf life of about one day, requiring harvesting early in the morning and sale within 3 to 4 hours. A significant proportion of flowers brought to markets remain unsold, resulting in financial losses exceeding ₹500 per day per acre of rose cultivation. These conditions lead to unstable incomes, increased livelihood risks, and limited opportunities for income diversification for smallholder farmers.

Rosewater is a widely used hydrosol with established applications in cosmetic, wellness, and religious practices. Market demand for rosewater has been growing steadily, with annual growth rates exceeding 7%. Rosewater can be produced from unsold rose flowers, thereby adding value to waste biomass. However, smallholder farmers are largely excluded from rosewater value chains due to the high cost and operational complexity of conventional production technologies. This study addresses this gap by developing and evaluating a compact, cost-effective solar thermal hydrodistillation system for decentralised rosewater production, with emphasis on product quality, shelf life, and livelihood outcomes.