A review of the performance of made in Nigeria yam processing machines

Abstract

The review of the yam peeling machines in Nigeria is hereby presented in this paper. Yam is consumed in various processed forms as boiled, pounded, meshed into stick paste or dough, fried, roasted or baked and also consumed as chips, while the waste from the peeled off are fed to livestock or further processed into yam flour. The economical importance of yam cannot be over emphasized, as nothing is wasted. In all the unit operations involved in yam processing, several processes have been successful mechanized with the exception of the yam peeling process. The processing of yam tubers in homes, small scale and large scale industrial processors involved different operations in which the peeling of the tubers is a major task that cannot be neglected. Engineers involved in the development of peeling machines for tubers worked extensively on cassava mostly at the neglect of the yam tubers. However, yam peeling has remained a serious global challenge to professionals and processing engineers involved in yam processing operations and in design of systems. This study presents the few successfully works undertaken on yam peeling machines, highlights the features, prospects, performance evaluation and limitations of the yam peeling machines in Nigeria.

Key words: Yam, Peeling Efficiency, Output Capacity, Performance.