8 Lugari CBOs receive solar dryers to curb post-harvest losses

MELECHEZEDECK EJAKAIT-KNA

Eight Eight Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) engaged in cereal farming in Lugari Sub-County have each received a solar bubble dryer to help address post-harvest losses. 

These CBOs include Mulembe CBO and Mbagara Farmers in Mautuma Ward, Lumakanda Maize Producers and Mercy CBO in Lumakanda Ward, Koromait Nafaka Jasho in Chekalini Ward, and Baco CBO, Marakusi Mali Shambani, and Muungano CBO in Lugari Ward. 

Speaking during the handover ceremony outside the Lumakanda agriculture office, Sub-County Agriculture Officer Kakai Wekesa thanked the Kenya Cereal Enhancement Programme - Climate Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods (KCEP-CRAL) for supporting cereal farmers. 

He said, “Lugari is predominantly a maize-growing zone. Farmers have been incurring losses when there is too much rainfall during the harvesting period, as drying maize and other cereals becomes a challenge.” However, with the bubble-dryers, losses will be minimised. 

They will ease the cumbersome drying exercise. Once you put maize into the dryer, it will take the shortest time possible to completely dry depending on its moisture content. Once dry the farmers will use a moisture meter to measure the moisture content.” 

Wekesa urged the beneficiary CBOs to make good use of the bubble dryers and guard them against damage. Rodgers Alinda from Sky Bold-the suppliers of the solar bubble-dryers said each dryer has the capacity to dry between 500-600 kilograms of maize within two to three hours depending on the moisture content.