MARGAO
Surplus fish finding its way to the fish meal plants since the traditional fishermen cannot dry the fish during the months of August for want of bright sunlight may be a thing of the past.
For, the Agriculture department has installed a solar electric hybrid fish dryer at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, at Margao, where the traditional fishermen or any common man can come with fish and take home dry fish within hours at nominal fee.
Agriculture Director, Neville Alphonso said the solar electric hybrid fish dryer will go a long way in helping the traditional fishermen or any common citizen to dry fish even when it is raining, preventing fish drying along the beach belt.
“We normally see a glut in the fish catch in the first two months of the fishing season, but the fish cannot be dried for want of bright sunlight, as a result of which the fish either rots or is sent to the fish meal plants. The fish dryer promises to do a turnaround wherein fishermen or any citizen can dry their fish throughout the year,” Alphonso said.
He added: “Traditionally fisherwomen dry their fish in open drying yard and on open beaches where it is not possible to maintain proper hygienic conditions. Frequent contamination occurs due to sand, dust, birds, animals and trespassers. Therefore, solar electric hybrid fish dryer is setup at Krishi Vigyan Kendra South Goa, Margao under RKVY-AFTAAR project establishment of training and demonstration units for aquaculture and fisheries.”
The technology has been developed by ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin. The solar dryer is having capacity of 100 kg fish/shrimp per operation. The drying time varies from 4-10 hours as per the moisture content and surface area of fish. For drying mackerel fish (bangada) dryer takes 8-10 hours.
The solar dryer installed at Margao will be used for giving demonstration, hands on training to fisherwomen. Also facility will be provided to fisherwomen to dry their fish at KVK dryer.
Outlining the advantages of solar dryers, the Agriculture director said the eco-friendly and hygienic drying by harnessing solar energy during favourable weather conditions without changing its colour and flavour. “Alternate back-up electrical heating systems to achieve desired temperatures during unfavourable weather conditions like min, cloud and night times. It reduces drying time considerably with improved product quality. There’s improved shelf life and value addition of the product fetches higher income for the fisher folk. The eco-friendly solar drying system reduces energy consumption,” he said.
He added: “Labour requirement is considerably reduced compared to open sun drying on the beaches/ coir mats because of the elimination of cleaning process due to sand and dust contamination. Re-handling process like spreading, sorting and storing because of non-drying or partial drying due to unfavourable weather conditions and spoilage due to rain can be also saved. It also ensures quality products eliminating the disadvantages of open sun drying followed in coastal villages.”
