MARAWI
CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 16 (PIA) --- Two hundred units of direct
solar dryers were constructed in different barangays of Marawi City and
the 39 municipalities of Lanao del Sur by the provincial government of
Lanao del Sur.
This is a 12 x 12 concrete pavement for exposing crops to direct sunlight under the open sky.
“In
a province that is rich in agricultural lands and where growing and
harvesting crops, such as rice and corn, is the main source of
livelihood, a solar dryer is very useful,” Governor Mamintal “Bombit”
Alonto Adiong, Jr. said.
“Farmers in various municipalities now have a place to dry their crops for free,” he further said.
Upon
lobbying for and receiving the funds of these solar dryers from the
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 2014, Adiong immediately implemented the
project with the local farmers in mind.
Adiong said the
provincial government is hoping to help farmers in the province come up
with good quality products and improve their livelihood.
They just need to coordinate with their respective barangay leaders for use of these dryers, he added.
“Solar
dryers use sunlight for drying, less amount of fuel energy is necessary
as compared to artificial drying systems, thus, they also save time and
space,” the Governor explained.
Janisha B. Dimaampao-Ali,
a resident of the municipality of Poona Bayabao, said the solar dryer
in their area was used for drying rice grains and conducting of the
weekly flag ceremony of nearby schools. “The youth here also uses it for
recreational purposes during weekends,” she said.
Azam
Macabando of Marawi City, on the other hand, said the solar dryer in
Barangay Kapantaran is being used not only for drying of corn but also
as playground for the children. “Various non-government organizations
also use it for their medical missions,” he added. (PIO-Lanao del
Sur/APB/PIA-10)
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