OPTIMALISASI PROSES PENGERINGAN TEMBAKAU MENGGUNAKAN MESIN PENGERING BERBASIS HEAT EXCHANGER DAN SISTEM TRAY DRYING UNTUK EFISIENSI ENERGI DAN PENINGKATAN KUALITAS PRODUK DI DESA GULANG, KUDUS

Dina Tauhida (Universitas Muria Kudus)
Ratri Rahmawati (Universitas Muria Kudus)
Slamet Khoeron (Universitas Muria Kudus)
Taufiq Hidayat (Universitas Muria Kudus)
Akhmad Zidni Hudaya (Universitas Muria Kudus)
Sugeng Slamet (Universitas Muria Kudus)
Muhammad Luqman Saiful Fikri (Universitas Muria Kudus)
Sigit Arrohman (Universitas Jenderal Soedirman)
Rangga Primadasa (Universitas Muria Kudus)

Jurnal Abdi Insani
Vol 13 No 6 (2026): Jurnal Abdi Insani

Tobacco farmers in Gulang Village, Kudus Regency, face post-harvest challenges, particularly in the drying process, which is still conducted conventionally, resulting in prolonged drying time, high energy consumption, and inconsistent product quality. This community service program aimed to improve drying efficiency and tobacco quality through the implementation of a heat exchanger-based tobacco drying machine. The dryer was designed with dimensions of 1.2 m × 2.4 m × 1.2 m and equipped with 16 trays, utilizing an indirect heating system to ensure stable temperature control and prevent smoke contamination. The implementation stages included needs assessment, machine design and manufacturing, program socialization, operational and maintenance training, field implementation, and before–after performance evaluation. The results showed a reduction in drying time from 72.0 hours to 52.2 hours (27.5% efficiency improvement), energy savings from 100.0 to 75.6 kWh equivalent (24.4% reduction), and an increase in dried tobacco output from 84.6 kg to 93.6 kg per cycle (10.6% improvement). The final moisture content was more uniform at 13–14%. Statistical analysis indicated significant differences between conventional and machine-based drying methods (p < 0.05). The implementation of this appropriate technology effectively enhanced post-harvest efficiency, improved product quality, and supported the sustainability of smallholder tobacco farming in Gulang Village.