Er. Vekho Swuro with his invention, “Naga Smokeless Dry Oven” (MExPic)
Chizokho Vero
Er Vekho Swuro has made the engineers fraternity proud in Nagaland by his invention:” Naga Smokeless Dry Oven.” Realizing the urgency and importance of the food products improvement, Er. Swuro said, “I started thinking and giving my time to improve indigenous items of food. After many efforts, I came to a conclusion by inventing a method of an apparatus for extraction of oil from meat, vegetables and fruits through the process in smokeless oven.”
The Oven preserves meat, fish, chillies, vegetables for human consumption by drying in a smokeless oven and could be loosely termed as the reverse of a fridge or cold storage, which requires low temperature for preservation.
During 1990, Er. Swuro heard from one medical practitioner that the conventional Naga method of drying meat and vegetables over smoke could cause cancer. Er. Swuro had seriously thought over this and came up with the Naga Smokeless Dry Oven in a perfect manner. He said that” the oven can dry meat, fish, chillies, Axone (Soybean Naga preparation), fruits, tea leaves including all kinds of vegetables, cardamom, turmeric etc”.
The product is expected to reach every tribal household in the North Eastern states as well as all tribal areas in the country. He also plans to export the same to neighbouring countries like Myanmar, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
The inventor reserves the right to authorize any company to manufacture the oven. However, no person is allowed to copy or modify the concept as a well as technology in any manner. Er. Swuro said the International Fund for Agriculture Product, based at Tura, Meghalaya through the Grassroots National Innovative Network, Guwahati had shown keen interest to adopt the oven. Similar institution at Senapati and Haflong are also interested to adopt the same.
The North Eastern Council is also showing interest on the product and asked for project report through the Government of Nagaland; He said,” 400 Oven have already out”. Recently, Er. Vekho Swuro presented the product to the DONER minister at Shillong.
He said, “If someone is eating happily in my name, then it is the happiest moment to me, “he smiled. He received Government’s commendation certificate on January 26 last year for this invention. School drop out and Naga women had started to use the products and are preparing different types of dry meat and pickles”
“I do warmly hope that many poor sections of the people can generate handsome daily income from their kitchen by drying meats and vegetables and sale the same in the market, “he added.
Er. Vekho Swuro is from Ruzazho village of Phek District. And presently, working in the vigilance department. Asked his future plan, “he said I would like to be a dedicated government servant”.
What people say about smokeless dry oven
• “Nagas can eat smokeless dried meat without fear of cancer especially nasopharyngeal, “Dr. Loso Chalai, MD Physician to Governor of Nagaland, said.
• “Axone (Dzacie-fermented soyabean) dried in smokeless oven is much safer for health,” Dr. Kiyekhu Asumi, Consultant, Directorate of Medical Services Nagaland.
• “Fat and carbon which are not good for health is very much minimized in this oven. Meat dried in this oven is very tasty,” Dr. Takunuksang Lemtor, State Programme Office.
