BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATIONS
Efforts from within West African region to sustain agro-food production and processing have been limited by poor post-harvest which can be alleviated through development, pilot scale demonstration, adoption and dissemination of established innovative flash drying technology from Nigeria
OBJECTIVE
To promote efficient and proven drying technologies for sustainable food security and poverty alleviation in West Africa
EXPECTED BENEFICIARIES: Framers, Food Processors, Equipment Fabricators, Policy Makers, Scientists, Extension Officers, SMEs, Financers
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Scoping Studies, dissemination of brochures on constraints to drying, Sensitization Workshop, Flash Dryer, Pilot Scale Testing, Capacity Building and National Drying Policy Improvement
ACTIVITY/PROGRESS MADE SINCE PREVIOUS REPORT:
1. Conduct scoping studies and gather baseline data on existing drying systems capacity training gaps and needs.
2. Questionnaire design with input from consultant.
3. Photocopying of final questionnaires for the baseline data collection
4. Recruitment and training of national enumerators
5. Field data collection
WAY FORWARD:
1. Conduct scoping studies and gather baseline data on existing drying systems capacity training gaps and needs.
2. Report writing; national on “scoping studies and baseline data on existing drying systems capacity training gaps and needs”.
3. Publication of Regional Baseline Report on ““scoping studies and baseline data on existing drying systems capacity training gaps and needs”.
4. Develop brochures on constraints to drying systems and profitable investment
5. Publish the brochures on “constraints to drying systems and profitable investment”.
6. Pilot scale testing of the flash dryer equipment to determine; fuel use efficiency, power options, drying throughput, techno-economic viability in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Benin Republic.
7. Advertisement for flash dryer, graters, pressers procurement.
8. Opening of tender.
9. Supervise research students on value chain analysis and product quality using installed drying facility
