Home ›› 02 Aug 2021 ›› Nation
Agro-researchers from renowned universities in Bangladesh have invented a multi-purpose agricultural drying machine which is revolutionising the farming process in Dinajpur.
This machine, namely, Multi Crops Dryer Model- 02, was invented by a team of esteemed researchers of Dinajpur’s Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science & Technology University (HMDSTU) and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2018. The machine is able to dry out paddy, wheat, maise and other varieties of crops obtaining less time and investment.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the quality of crops depends on grain moisture content (MC). It is ideal when the MC is between 24% and 26% (wet basis). Any delays in drying, incomplete drying, or uneven drying will result in qualitative and quantitative losses.
Dr Sajjat Hossain, chairman, of HMDSTU’s Department of Food Engineering and Technology, led a team of four agro researchers, including a professor from BUET and with three years of arduous effort has invented a machine that can execute the drying process of crops maintaining such moisture content.
Before the invention of this machine, farmers used to dry their crops using traditional methods, such as sun-drying, in-store drying, heated air drying etc., which is a lengthy, costly and laborious process, told Dr. Sajjat to the Business Post.
“Funded by the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation, I, along with my four colleagues, invented a prototype of the machine in 2018. It is capable of drying 48 tonnes of grain in only 24 hours, maintaining the natural moisture and quality of the grain,” said Dr Sajjat.
“The machine has been able to function on half the price and effort than the traditional ways. It is also highly affordable, eco-friendly and has no harmful impact on bio-diversity,” he further said.
After testing the efficiency of the machine, officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Dinajpur have recommended the researchers to commercialise the drying machine so that farmers from other districts can also benefit from the newly-invented machine.
M Alim Al Raji, the owner of Ajmain Agro Industry, installed a prototype of the drying machine in his factory costing an amount of Tk50,00,000 in February this year.
He said: “Earlier, the drying process used to be so difficult and dependent on the natural weather. We used to cease the whole drying process in monsoon and winter season and wait for the right sunny weather to arrive.”
“With this machine, the moisture content of grain such as paddy, maise can be brought from 28 per cent to 14 per cent. For its affordability, efficiency, and ease of use, this machine is becoming popular among traders and farmers for drying grain. Not only that, the machine requires half the time to process (Dry) the grain than before,” he further said.
Manik Miah, a farmer of Kaharol upazila’s Goreya Bazar, said: “We used to spread our grain in thin layers following traditional sun-drying method in different drying mills. The whole process used to take at least three days to complete with a cost of Tk23,000 for 24 tonnes of grain.”
“But now, with the machine, it takes only one day to dry the same amount of grain, costing a reduced amount of Tk17,000,” the farmer added.
A paddy trader, Shariful said: “In the monsoon season, it used to be so difficult to dry the crops. They used to get soaked in water, lose texture and in most cases, get ruined. We used to face so many losses in case of natural calamities.”
“However, now the process became so easy and effortless with the emergence of the machine,” he added.
Zafar Eqbal, renowned agriculturist and deputy director of Dinajpur DAE, said: “The machine has become a blessing for the farmers in the region. Now the farmers do not need to depend on the weather and can create output per their wish. This will not only benefit the overall crop production in the region but also the farmers commercially.”
