The importance of food to human beings needs not be over flogged. Food is to human being as fuel is to engines. No human being can survive without food for more than 21 days.

To this end, every effort must be made to provide food at the appropriate quantity, quality and price.

Food provision is also one of the measures to gauge the security of a state, the self reliance and its sustainability.

Garri is one of the staple foods in Africa. An average Nigerian home
consumes garri at least 100 days a year. The consumption level is in millions of metric tons annually. There exist both local and export markets for garri.

In view of the above, establishment of garri processing factory is seen as one of the legitimate means of livelihood for Nigerians.

The major raw material for garri production is raw cassava tubers that are abundantly grown in Nigeria .

Nigeria is the largest producer of
cassava in the world, producing over 50 million metric tons per annum.

The project is one of the ways to provide jobs for Nigerians. This period of global financial meltdown calls for creation of streams of incomes by Nigerians to meet the ever-growing needs.

Garri production is one of such
streams of income that can be created. There is no waste in garri production as the by-products such as cassava peels and starch have ready market.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Garri production entails fresh cassava tubers procurement, washing, peeling, grating, de-watering, fermentation, sieving and frying.

To establish the project involves site
procurement, procurement and installation of machinery, recruitment of appropriate personnel, purchase of raw materials and commercial take-off. Serious minded investors can be mentored to successfully establish this project.

PROfITABILITY

200 metric tons of garri can be processed annually. A profit margin of N60,000 per ton of garri has been computed. This gives us a net income of N12 million annually.

This is also one of the hidden projects that can sustain many Nigerians.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION

The cost implication of setting up a garri processing plant with a 1000Kg/day capacity is approximately 3.5 million naira.


Author: Olumakinde Oni
Source: businessdayonline.com