Solar fish dryer inaugurated
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 24 2011:
A furnace-like equipment for drying fishes and operated from solar energy has been inaugurated at the Lamphelpat complex of Indian council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), NEH Region today.
Inauguration of the solar fish dryer was held with Deputy director General (Fisheries) of ICAR, New Delhi Dr B Meenakumari as the chief guest.
In her address, Dr Meenakumari informed that the equipment has in-built capacity to dry 250 kgs fish and requires atleast two days to complete the drying process.
Explaining that the equipment, costing Rs 20 lakhs, could also be used to dry 10-20 kg fish, she said with the equipment requiring only solar energy to operate consumption of the dried fish do not pose any risk to health.
Noting widespread use of firewood and other conventional sources of energy to dry fish in Manipur, where consumption of dried fish is considered to be high, the ICAR official said not only will the lengthy process to manually prepare dry fish be addressed but fishes dried in the new environment-friendly equipment could be seasoned for longer period of time.
It is informed that individual fish farmers of the state could utilise the newly installed machine to process dry fish.
The machine reportedly requires only about 80 degree centigrade solar heat to dry 250 kg fish.
CIFT (Cochin) Director Dr TK Srinivas Gopal, ICAR Manipur Centre Director Dr N Prakash, Joint Head of Engineer Division of CIFT (Cochin) PN Joshi and State's Fishery Department Director K Sarat were also present at
the inaugural programme.