• Instantaneous flours (corn cereal -aklui-, purée of niébé (adowê), pounded igname) constitute the future products of West Africa … These traditional African foodstuffs dried in sucha a manner keep them consumable for a year; able to be stored in plastic bags, they are easily transportable. In Ghana, traditionally dried products (banana and igname flour…) are widely consumed by the active population (working class men and women) in urban areas. In Bénin, they are found in outlets near heavily populated areas: Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Parakou, Bohicon…

• Manioc and igname can be conserved by drying fine "cossettes" (small morsels). Cossettes constitute an interesting final product for herders (feed for cattle) or an intermediary product for food processors (production of instant flour).

• Dried vegetables (okra, peppers, tomatoes) remain complimentary products for the rural zones, especially the North.

• Dried fruits (pineapple, mango) are already consumed in Europe; the draconian norms of exportation make up an niche market activity restricted to merchants capable of investing in large, unique equipment made specifically for that activity.

In a different drying method, the MAXICOQ, a current of air is created by fans at the entrance of the dryer tunnel. It is developed in such a manner that the fans can eventually be connected to solar pannels for times when electricity is not available in the place of work.

A prototype has been constructed at the Porto-Novo Songhai site in Benin and subsequent trials have proven conclusive; once the final adjustments have been made, 150 kg of manioc cossettes will be able to be dried in less than 48 hours. This drier also works for heavier, water-based products such as okra, peppers, and tomatoes (average 60 kg in 24 hours). This equipment is convenient for both the mass and the private producer.

These two new machines therefore permit the maximization of a marketable and vibrant production venue. The improved drying process (along with the drying tools) can permit farmers to better conservation techniques post harvest of perishable agricultural products (drying of manioc and igname cossettes) as well as women to diversify their production activities of basic foodstuffs (production of instant aklui, igname flour, shrimp flour, goussi powder, etc.)

This is the final drier in the series. The prototype was completed in June 2003 in collaboration with GERES.

This drier will eventually replace the Maxicoq.

It is not currently available for retail sale (more testing is required) but it will be distributed very soon.

for more information : send us an e-mail

The shell driers (an innovation of GRET/GERES), uniquely solar based easily adaptable, well known and used in the Sahel countries and in Northern Benin by groups of women (domestic level).

Tel : +229 22 50 92
Fax : +229 22 20 50
email : songhai@songhai.org
site web : www.songhai.org/mecanique