RAMBAN: The Agriculture Department today introduced portable solar dryers for farmers of Ramban district for drying various farm products.

Chief Agriculture Officer, Dr. Ashvani Kumar Sharma distributed the Solar Driers among 26 farmers on a ninety percent subsidy provided under the Capex budget.

District Agriculture Officer, Dr.Ramesh Pandoh, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer, Sudhir Manhas and Agriculture Extension Officer, Ramban, Jagdish Bali were also present on the occasion.

The CAO informed that these Solar Dryers actually costing Rs.14000 in the market, were given to the farmer for only Rs 14,00/- on 90% subsidy and each of this Solar Drier can dry any vegetable, fruit or spices under sunlight unaffected by the rain and dust without decolourising the dried product.

The products dried in this way will enhance the market value of the farm products thereby multiplying the income of farmers.

"In Ramban district, these Driers will be mainly used for drying Anardana and Quince (Beyi) by the farmers on a commercial scale," said Dr Ashvani. It is pertinent to mention here that Ramban district is the largest producer of Anardana in J&K.

To begin with, small portable Driers of only 3 to 5Kg capacity were distributed and if successful bigger Driers will also be provided to farmers on a large scale, he added.