VIGAN CITY (PIA) - - Some 34 farmers associations in the municipalities of San Juan and Cabugao, Ilocos Sur received a total of 50 units of PORTASOL multi-purpose drying trays from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently.

According to the DOST, PORTASOL is a portable and lightweight solar dryer composed of aluminum thermal trays that can be laid down on an open field or assembled into racks with a plastic sheet cover as protection from pests and fungus.

“This will improve the product quality of the farmers and fisherfolks as they will no longer dry their produce in an open area where high contamination and losses are high. Farmers and fisherfolks now have the capacity to produce sanitized and hygienic dried products and minimized drying losses,” the DOST said.

Aside from the mentioned advantages of the dryer, DOST’s Provincial Science and Technology Office in Ilocos Sur (PSTO-IS) Provincial Director Jordan Abad said, “Other commodities and high-value crops can be dried to minimize food contamination like in drying chili, and other commodities.”

Said PORTASOL was provided to some 25 farmers associations in Cabugao town and nine associations in San Juan town.

The provision of assistance was held in collaboration with the First Congressional District of Ilocos Sur.

“Nakitak a mayat daytoy nga equipment ta hygienic isuna. Isu a kayatko a mapadasyo ditoy Cabugao ken San Juan ta no kayatyunto pay ket nayunantayunto manen,” Ilocos Sur First District Representative Ronald Singson said. (I saw how effective and hygienic this equipment is as a grains drying facility that’s why we provided you here in Cabugao and San Juan with such equipment.)

Cabugao Mayor Josh Edward Cobangbang and San Juan Vice Mayor Benjamin Sarmiento, Jr. expressed their gratitude to the DOST for the provision of drying trays.

Cabugao Vice Mayor Edgardo Cobangbang also commended the DOST saying that they have distributed the same technology before and many farmers in the municipality tried and tested the effectiveness of the said dryer.

“Adu iti madi maka ammo iti daytoy a dryer ta napintas daytoy a pangibilagan iti irik. Saanen a mapan agibilag iti kalsada wenno gumatang iti adu a screen (drying nets),” Vice Mayor Cobangbang said. (Many are not aware of how effective this equipment is. It’s cost-effective and convenient.)

DOST-1 Regional Director Armando Ganal then assured the continuous support of the DOST farmers and fisherfolks in bringing science and technology to the community.

“Namnamaenyo ta agingga iti kabaelanmi, ket maitedmi iti kasapulan a tulong kadakayo kadagiti programami ken iti suporta ni apo Congressman,” Dr. Ganal said. (We assure you that we, at the DOST through our programs and support of the office of Representative Ronald Singson, will do our best to provide your needs.) (JCR/JPD/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)