The Managing Director, Makfurego Nigeria Limited, Mr. Funsho Makanjuola, has said that the adoption of solar food processing method will increase food production in the rural areas at a cheap cost.
He said this during the unveiling of the solar biomass energy equipment to promote food security in rural areas recently.
“The introduction of this equipment for food security is timely and it is important that government takes advantage of this cheap but efficient system of crop drying and processing for food security,” he said.
Makanjuola noted that the equipment would help create foodstuff-drying centres in rural villages for women.
The fact that it has no electrical parts, he added, makes it easy to install in any remote community.
According to him, the equipment’s components are the solar collector, biomass burner and the drying chamber.
“The solar collector collects the sunlight energy and converts it to heat. The biomass burner chamber is the place where the agricultural waste and residues will be burnt to generate heat, which is then circulated into the drying chamber where the products to be dried are kept. Inside the chamber, the foodstuff is maintained in a hygienic condition and contamination is prevented completely,” he explained.
Makanjuola listed some of the advantages of the solar/biomass hybrid dryer to include its usefullness in any weather condition, enhanced natural convective air circulation system, wide variety of crops it can dry, and the availabiltiy of its fuel – wood, farm waste and solar energy.
“It has excellent hygiene quality – no dust, no smoke, and no attack from insects or rodents. The products’ colour and taste are preserved, while drying temperature can be regulated manually taking into consideration the type of product to be dried and the temperature requirements,” he added.
Repair and maintenance of the equipment is simple and within the capacity of users. It is also a hybrid method for drying crops such as maize, meat, pepper, vegetable, onions, fish, yam chips, elubo , cassava, cassava chips, fruits, tomatoes, okra and copra, among others.
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