Development of Improved Artisans Fish Smoking Machine: An Innovation in Agriculture

Abstract

The objective of the study was to develop an improved artisan’s fish smoking machine (IAFSM) with micro environment type of smoking chamber for fish smoking and incorporated a sawdust stove with inlet vents to produce hot and non-dense smoke under natural influence at high temperature and velocity. A wooden frame was developed according to the required dimensions; internal
walls were nailed to the frame from inside; the internal walls were made of stainless metal sheets that were cut into required sizes. Thin layer of dried and powdery red clay soil was formed within the thickness of the wall frame after some quantity of the material was poured, and a thick layer of cotton wool was placed on it thereafter, plywood was fixed to the frame from outside to cover these lagging materials. These sets of activities were repeated for the remaining three sides including the door, top and the lowest flat parts of the machine. The dried sawdust was compressed in the IAFSM’s stove with the volume 1.25 × 108 mm3, flux guide, and a fire screen. An outlet vent is located at the top of the machine. When the compressed dried sawdust was ignited with dried pieces of paper when the door was closed; the fuel burns under natural influence without the use of fan in any form. The exhausted flux escaped via the outlet vent and away from the artisans, as soon as, its cooks the fish. A hot and non - densed smoke generator has been developed
to smoke fish at a cheaper and faster rate with heat energy and non - densed smoke delivered to the fish at the rate between 86.9 J/S and 92 J/S from the heat energy delivered to the smoking chamber at a rate between 108.6 J/S and 127.8 J/S. Satisfactory taste reports were received after the interview granted by the 20 members of the public randomly selected and served with the samples of the smoked fish. The developed mechanical aid: Is environmentally friendly; Uses coal or similar fuel material that can smoulders;
and Smokes fish faster than any devices in the existing literature, less than an hour, with significant moisture loss.