FAKFAK – Team 15 of the 2026 Hasanuddin University Patriot Expedition (TEP Unhas) has begun introducing a technology-based approach to nutmeg drying, a process that has so far depended heavily on weather conditions. Through a nutmeg post-harvest workshop and hands-on practice in using the Smart Solar Biomass Dryer on Thursday, 17 September 2026, farmers in the Weri-Saharey transmigration area, Fakfak Regency, learned to dry nutmeg with a system that combines solar energy, biomass and Internet of Things (IoT) technology.
The activity was attended by members of independent farmer groups, administrators of village-owned enterprises (BUMKam) as well as village cooperatives (Kopdes) from two villages (kampung) in the Weri-Saharey area. It is part of a community empowerment program designed around the needs and aspirations of residents, which had earlier been gathered through a focus group discussion (FGD). One of the issues that emerged was the management of the nutmeg harvest, particularly the drying stage, which is still heavily affected by weather conditions.
Before the hands-on technology session, participants first received a briefing on post-harvest handling and standard operating procedures for nutmeg storage, delivered by Irham Rasyid. The material stressed the importance of handling nutmeg after harvest to maintain seed quality, prevent mold growth, reduce the risk of physical damage and preserve the commodity’s market value.
Participants were then invited to see the Smart Solar Biomass Dryer, a drying machine that combines the use of solar energy with biomass fuel, and to practice operating it themselves. The practical session was guided in person by the head of Team 15 of the UNHAS Patriot Expedition, Ir. Sahriyanti Saad, S.Hut., M.Si., Ph.D., together with team members.
Sahriyanti explained that the device differs from conventional dryers. One of its advantages is its Internet of Things (IoT) integration. Using a mobile phone, users can monitor conditions inside the drying chamber in real time, particularly temperature and humidity, and adjust the fan speed.
“During the practical session, participants were trained to keep the drying temperature for nutmeg within the ideal range of 50–60°C. The control mechanism is hybrid. If the app detects a temperature below 50°C, farmers must add biomass. Conversely, if the temperature exceeds 60°C, the volume of burning fuel must be reduced,” said Sahriyanti.
To gauge changes in participants’ understanding, Team 15 also conducted an evaluation through a pre-test and a post-test. Participants’ enthusiasm was evident throughout the demonstration and the hands-on operation of the device.
“Until now, whenever we wanted to dry nutmeg, we worried that it might suddenly rain. It turns out there is a device like this that uses the sun’s heat and materials already at hand, so it is very helpful,” said Aher Samai, head of the Rangkum farmer group (Poktan).
“The device is easy to use, especially for checking the temperature and moisture content of the nutmeg. We hope its capacity can be increased so that we can dry more nutmeg. If possible, each village would have two units, so farmers could use them right away and the dried nutmeg would also be cleaner,” said Dahlan, head of the Pancoran farmer group.
The introduction of this technology not only offers an alternative solution to drying problems but has also opened a discussion on how the technology can be developed to better suit the needs of the local community.
The UNHAS Patriot Expedition Team is aware that the prototype currently being introduced is still household-scale, with a capacity of about 1,000 nutmeg seeds per drying session. The community hopes this innovation can serve as an initial reference for developing a community-scale machine in the future that can accommodate residents’ harvests collectively.
The empowerment program in the Weri-Saharey transmigration area is expected not only to safeguard Fakfak’s leading commodity but also to serve as a blueprint for agricultural modernization in other transmigration areas in Indonesia.(*/ari/tep)
Editor: Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.