A group, Developmental Association for Renewable Energy in Nigeria (DARE), has inaugurated a solar powered dryer panel to overcome post-harvest losses.

The panel was inaugurated at Sabongarin Ba’awa in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Director of the group, Malam Yahaya Ahmed, said the move was to support local farmers with new scientific techniques and technology to reduce farm produce losses due to lack of processing machines in rural area.

“We introduced the solar powered dryer to the rural farmers through a revolving fund.

“Our target is to reduce the quantum of food crops being damaged and the attendant financial loss incurred by farmers.

“The director explained that the dryer has a n efficacy period of 25 years’.

Related News

“They can use it to dry all their farm produce in both rainy and dry seasons, among which include, tomatoes, pepper, ginger, mangoes, and so on for just for some hours and everything will dry.”

According to him, the dryer helps to prevent dust, contamination and retention of the natural taste of the food items.

Ahmed described the intervention as “new and attractive” that would enhance productivity and income of rural farmers.

“It opens a new doors to the process of overcoming the challenges of post-harvest losses in Nigeria,” he added.

Malam Mohammed Isa, the District Head of Sabongarin Ba’awa, expressed happiness over the gesture and pledged that farmers in the area would exploit its benefits to the fullest. (NAN)