The Salsalamagui Solar Dryer which is constructed under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) was finally turned over to the members of Zanjera Taguipuro Manayon during an awarding ceremony in Vintar, Ilocos Norte last July 18, 2017.

During the ceremony, DA-RFO 1’s Regional Technical Director for Research & Development Erlinda F. Manipon congratulated the members of the Zanjera for being the recipient of the project which will certainly benefit a lot of farmers in the area. The solar dryer is the first standalone infrastructure subproject under PRDP to be transferred to a farmer organization. It is also among the first subprojects of PRDP of which the counter-part was provided by the Ilocos Norte Provincial Government.

Mr. Manny Agbayani, Chairman of the Zanjera Taguipuro Manayon, pledged to maintain the solar dryer through close monitoring. He said that the Zanjera will try its best to preserve the infrastructure so that even the next generation of farmers will also be able to use it. The Zanjera mainly grows peanuts and onions, aside from rice.

The Salsalumagui Solar Dryer has a total project cost of P1,152,159.34. Some of the distinguishing features of PRDP-funded solar dryers include: 6-inch concrete pavement; Class A cement mixture (CFR is 9.10); inclusion of preconstruction expenses like land filling, compacting, clearing, and rip rapping; consideration of slope; use of DPWH Detailed Unit Price Analysis in estimating cost; and updated labor rates.

The solar dryer aims to increase the income of the farmer beneficiaries by affording more quality produce. With the solar dryer, farmers are expected to avoid drying their produce along road shoulders of highways which accounts for post-harvest losses.

Meanwhile, the Mabanbanag Solar Dryer which is also located in the Municipality of Vintar is expected to be awarded on the second week of August to the Zanjera Mantapat Kunig. (Dessa U. Estrada and Vida V. Cacal, RPCO1 InfoACE Unit)