TEHRAN---The Director of the Office of Agriculture Jihad in Shahrood announced that for the first time ever in Iran, a solar fruit dryer has been installed in Bastam district in Shahrood.

Muhammad Kazemi told IRNA on Thursday that the machinery uses solar energy to dry tomatoes, apricots, peppers, and other fruits and vegetables as well.

The machinery can dry apricots in a hygienic way, so that they can be exported to other parts of the country and also to foreign countries.

Shahrood's deputy in the Majlis and a number of Iranian officials and farmers from Semnan Province attended the ceremony.