A farmer harvests 10 t of cassava roots with an initial moisture content of 45 % (wet basis). The roots must be dried to a final moisture content of 12 % (wet basis). Drying can be performed in two stages: sun drying reduces moisture at 0.8 % per hour (free) for up to 24 h, and a mechanical dryer reduces moisture at 1.5 % per hour at a cost of $\text{₦}2{,}500$ per hour. The farmer wants to minimise total drying time while keeping total drying cost ≤ $\text{₦}150{,}000$. Determine the number of sun‑drying hours (integer) and the corresponding mechanical‑drying hours required, the total drying time, the total cost, and the final weight of the dried cassava (in tonnes, to two decimal places).

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Sun drying = 0 h; Mechanical drying = 22 h; Total time = 22 h; Cost = ₦55,000; Final weight = 6.25 t

Gce Model Questions Vol1 2024 Agricultural Science Question 23

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