The Institute for Agricul
tural Research, Samaru, Zaria, said on Monday, that it had invented vegetable solar drying machine to assist farmers in preserving their produce.
An Industrial Designer in the institute, Dr Paul Ndahi,  made this disclosure in an interview with newsmen.
Ndahi said that the machine has the capacity to dry tomatoes, onions, vegetable, fish, meat among other perishable goods for preservative purpose.
He explained that the essence of developing the device was to reduce post harvest losses and to ensure hygienic preservation of the perishable produce.
“This device is a solar dryer and it can dry tomatoes, onions, vegetable, fish and meat among other goods. “For instance to dry tomatoes and onions it depends on the moisture content, but it takes a day to dry. “The essence of this is to make sure that the drying quality is pure and not adulterated with either dust or flies or other form of impurity. “It is clean and hygienic and also the drying time is faster,’’ he said.
According to Ndahi, the machine is cheap and affordable to farmers. “We designed it for farmers, so it’s very affordable, depending on the size and capacities, the price goes from N 15,000 and above,’’ he said.
Ndahi said that the technology is indigenous and could be expanded to meet the demands of interested farmers.
He said that farmers and other interested individuals are already approaching the institute to buy the device for commercial and household use.
The designer further said that other indigenous machines designed by the institute include maize, groundnut and cowpea shellers with less than five per cent grain damage.