IT is interesting to note that: • Improved manual cassava harvester was released in 2017. Harvesting, one of the serious bottlenecks in the cassava production value chain, has received little attention in terms of mechanization. Earlier attempts at mechanising cassava harvesting have been challenged mainly by inappropriate method of planting, field topography and scale of cultivation.
Developing and adopting simple but efficient energy-saving manual harvesting tools and equipment is a sure way forward in overcoming these challenges in cassava harvesting. The cassava harvesting tool was constructed with the idea of reducing drudgery due to waist bending associated with existing manual harvesting tools which usually leads to waist pains and other bodily weaknesses.
The equipment is suitable for all cassava growing ecologies in Ghana. The improved hand-held tool can harvest cassava twice as fast with half the effort required when using existing manual harvesting options. Farmers have increased their production area and yield by 15-25 per cent after being introduced to the harvester.
• Recirculating aquaculture technology was released in 2015. Simple raised tanks that can be set in the backyard with minimal skill requirement. This technology is an aquaculture system composed of a raised tank structure (rectangular, circular or ellipsoid) made of either a cement block or wooden frame and lined with a canvas material to make. It is applicable to all cassava growing parts of the country. It can be done in homes.
• New oven for smoking fish (AFSMO-150)/ Ahotor stove was released in 2007. A brick oven which reduces tar deposition on smoked fish with increased fish smoking capacity. Ahotor stove is applicable in all fishing communities in Ghana. It is less laborious to operate, has higher smoking capacity, it is more economical to use because it consumes less fuel, and it deposits less tar on the fish and, therefore, produces better quality smoked fish.
• Improved Chorkor smoker (AFSMO) was released in 2005. This technology is to help to reduce Poly-aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoked fish and reduce the drudgery involved in the other means of smoking fish. The use of fuel wood is reduced. Chorkor smoker is applicable in all fishing communities in Ghana. It reduces PAH in smoked fish which makes it healthy.
• Flash Dryer- drying of root crops cakes, was released in 2004. A typical flash-drying process consists of a modified pneumatic conveyor in which the wet solids are introduced. They go through a chute where they are transported in a high velocity hot air stream. Particles fall under high velocity and pressure through a cyclone (in some instances 2, 4 or 6 cyclones).
Thermal contact time between the conveying air and the solids is usually very short and, therefore, flash dryers are most suitable for removal of external moisture.
It is applicable in all parts of the country. Compared to solar drying (two days for drying) and cabinet drying (12-15hrs), flash dryer dries one ton of cassava (for example) in 1hr 30mins. Flash dryer dries in a flash. Flash Dryer is fast, and temperature build-up after an hour is enough to keep on drying without fuel. It can utilise either LPG or diesel in operating. Capacity is between 250- 500kg/ hr output 7. It requires little oversight after temperature build-up.
Source: Manual of Agricultural Technologies developed by CSIR, MAG and MoFA Page: 133-136