CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) - Thinking Ahead!

I am in the business of Garri Processing, and Cassava Farming by extension. I have had my fair share of loss in this business to say the least. My earlier experience was never what I thought, believing that Agric business as widely celebrated; is a cash cow. Sincerely, it was through pains, frustration and loss that I eventually got my way.

As a Commercial Garri Processor, the major critical factor that guarantee success and sustenance in this business is your ability to consistently get cassava tuber for your production at a price that garri business can accommodate profitably. Even before now that cassava has become unapproachable because of its high price, I make bold to say that a Garri Processor cannot afford to pay same price a fufu processor is paying for same quantity of cassava. Not to talk of now that major big buyers are always right there in the farm, with their big bags full of cash. In the last two years, cassava business has suddenly turn around the fortune of many farmers who had been living in abject poverty for years.

Concerning-ly, this situation has even made the business of Garri Processing become more difficult than before, especially for Commercial Processors. Since processors cannot offer same price offered to farmers by dealers who procure for Industrial cassava processors in the businesses of cassava starch, cassava flour, cassava chips and Ethanol processing, Garri producers have no choice than to make do with crumbs left behind in the farms after big buyers have left. Thus, reason for low quantity and high price of garri currently being experience across markets in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, there are many commercial garri processors who have closed down their factories. And many have even put up their factories for sale for more than six months now, with no buyers forthcoming.

Not as it, a Commercial Processor who has chosen to remain in this business needs no one to advise him that it is high time he makes Cassava Farming as an integral part of his business. Apart from this, it is no longer a matter of choice but a must that a visionary Garri Processor must situate his factory right there inside the farm settlement - where there is abundant cultivation of cassava tuber. This is not the time to give room for additional unnecessary cost on long transportation.

Despite the large number of people who are going into cassava farming at the moment, I do not see the raw material pressure on commercial garri processors reducing in any way, comes next harvest season. This is simply because, the industrial consumption of cassava tubers is fastly opening up; thus making the business of cassava selling remains a seller's market for a long period of time. Federal Government stands to save huge foreign exchange and create more jobs through industrialization via continuous propagation of industrial usages of cassava tubers, rather than mere production of garri and Fufu. So, it is not difficult to imagine where the interest will belong. And as long as same price applies for garri processors, the situation will remain the same in the garri market.

One need not be afraid of where the future belongs for the business of garri Production though. Only that the players in this market needs to look ahead and reposition their business accordingly.

Apart from the fact that Garri Processors must take cassava farming as part of their business operations, it is equally highly important to fully embrace mechanized Production without any sentiment or reservation. I quite agree that there is still a long way to go in developing efficient and effective machines for this business. Pockets of ugly experiences especially with the 'Garrifiers' does not in any way override the role an efficient machine would play in cost reduction. We can only challenge our Engineers and local fabricators to work closely with us to deeply understand the process and our needs.

In addition, it is high time we begin to embrace the concept of CENTRAL PROCESSING UNITS. This is an idea of a single processing area within a farm settlement that can serve as many processors as possible. This will help reduce cost of production to a large extent. The facility will have all basic production elements ranging from water, electricity supply, machines. Labour will be cheap and in abundant. Two or three processors can combine to transport their cassava tuber at the same time. Selling will become easier and more organized. Relationship with farmers will become better structured. The facility will equally service contract production for outsiders.

Group of Processors can come together under cooperative to finance this facility. It makes it easier for them to approach financiers for their developmental plans. Entrepreneurs who are interested in cassava value chain business should also this as a business opportunity.

I make bold that the business of Garri Processing is not sinking anywhere. Garri consumption as food is part of our culture as a people in Nigeria. There are several opportunities to scale up in this business. Export Market is also growing. Even locally, I do not see any economically viable replacement for garri in next many years. 'Semo' can only try, it is not drinkable. Beside, price of maize is not also coming down soon, bearing all usage pressure also attached to it.

Our business will not go down by the special grace of God. We only need to keep THINKING AHEAD.

Kazeem Lamidi
08100975775

How to start cassava processing business?

Do you want to start cassava processing business? Do you want to know what to prepare? With the maturity of cassava deep processing business, more and more people want to start cassava processing business. However, most of them have no experience. Here Doing Company will introduce you some suggestions about how to start cassava processing business based on our projects experience.

how to start cassava processing businessHow to start cassava processing business?

1. Determine your final product.

Due to cassava can be widely processed into starch, flour, fufu, garri, cassava chips,etc., so the first issue is to determine your final product. This depends on your requirements and budget. Generally speaking, cassava starch requires highest investment, but its profit is also the highest, therefore suitable for larger investors. Garri requires less investment and can earn money back quick, suitable for small investors. So you need think carefully before starting cassava processing business.

how to start cassava processing businessCassava processing products

2. Learn about the market.

After determine the final product, you need to learn the market. You need to know is the cassava processing business feasible in your location? How many competitors are there in your region? Is there enough raw material in your area and is it available all year around? Is the final product has a high demand in local market? If your location has enough cassava and a few competitors, and the market demand is high in local, then congratulations, you're off to a good start.

3. Set up an area for cassava processing

If you already have an available space to start your business, that's great. If not, you'll have to rent or purchase one. It should be noted that cassava is not resistant to storage and needs to be processed within 2 days, so the factory should be located close to the raw materials.

how to start cassava processing businessSet up plant

4. Obtain the necessary permissions and the licenses.

When the land is prepared, you need to obtain the necessary permissions and the licenses. You can visit the necessary websites to ensure you understand and comply with all state and local restrictions and get necessary licenses.

5. Buy the equipment.

This mainly determined by your final products. As mentioned above, cassava starch processing machine is most expensive and garri processing machine is relatively cheap. You'd better choose a reliable equipment manufacturer, not a trade company.

Henan Doing Company is professional cassava processing machine manufacturer, we can not only supply you with high quality cassava processing equipment with factory price, but also provide you with excellent after-sales service. Besides, we have oversea warehouse in Nigeria, if you start business in Africa, our overseas manager can offer on-the-spot service for you.

how to start cassava processing businessBuy cassava processing equipment

6. Decide your source of raw material.

Cassava raw material can come from your own farm, or buy from farmers around your factory. If you do not have a farm, to ensure the adequate supply of cassava, you can rent a land to to grow your own cassava or sign contracts with farmers.

how to start cassava processing businessDecide your source of raw material

7. Promote your business.

You can advertise in your local newspaper and the web to promote your business. Of course, it is necessary for you to create business cards and informational handouts to give to your prospective new clients.

8. Find protential buyers to sell your products.

If your final products is cassava starch, you can sell it to local paper mills, textile mills, chemical plants,etc or export it to international market. For cassava flour, it can be used as substitute for wheat flour, therefore it can be sold to bakery. As for garri, it is normally sold to local market in West Africa. Cassava chips can be exported as animal feed or be sold to brewery. So according to your final products, find potential buyers and sign contract with them to reduce risk.

After read this, I believe that you have a basic understand about how to start cassava processing business. If you decided to engage in cassava processing business, you can contact Henan Doing Company, except equipment, we can supply you with turn-key projects. Wish you a success!

How much will it cost me to plant cassava processing machines?

This is Henan Jinrui company, we are the professional manufacturer of cassava processing machines. How will it cost me to plant cassava processing machines? We will introduce them here.

First, cassava processing includes many products: Garri, cassava flour, and cassava starch. They will use different cassava processing machines. Usually, the cost connects with two factors: one is the capacity you will do; the second is the configuration of machines. Here we will show different capacities with standard configuration machines cost.

For garri processing machine, our cheapest machine is $3000, it’s for a cassava grating machine; the small garri processing line is cost about $20,000-$50,000, including cassava peeling machine, grating machine, dewatering machine, garri fryer, sieving machines. For a bigger complete and automatic garri processing line, it cost about $100,000-$300,000. You can choose machines according to your requirement.


For the cassava flour processing line, we have a semi-automatic processing line and an automatic processing line. A semi-automatic processing line is it costs about $50,000. And about automatic processing, according to different capacities, the cost is from $120,000-$1,600,000. We will give you a professional processing plan according to your needs.

For cassava starch processing line is an automatic processing line, we can do from 2-40tons cassava input per hour for one processing line. And the production efficiency and extraction rate of the cassava starch processing line are very high. The cost for a complete processing line is from $240,000-$1,760,000.

To sum up, the cost is connected with your capacity and machine configuration. If you want to start a cassava processing business, welcome to consult Henan Jinrui company, we will guide you with professional suggestions.