Garri is a local delicacy in Nigeria as it is one of the most important and most consumed food staples in the country. Also known as cassava flakes, is one food enjoyed by most Nigerians and can either be baked with hot water and enjoyed with a variety of soups, or can be mixed with cold water, sugar or salt and used as a side with beans, baked beans, or drank with sugar and milk as a dessert.
On average, Nigeria consumes over well over 7.7 million metric tons of garri annually, and this figure keeps growing yearly.
The demand for garri can’t be exhausted as the demand for garri by far surpasses the present production rate.
The investors with the right machinery are making real money producing this essential commodity in some great quantity to serve the market that is far from being saturated as the demands of it continues to increase.
It is a viable business because it is one of the most widely consumed food in Africa and beyond. As the population of Africa continues to grow along with its economy, likewise the demands of staple foods like garri continue to match up with it.
In Nigeria today, there are both big and small scale garri producers that are making fortunes with the business and are living the comfortable lives of their choice. They are not looking at the business as anything that could dwindle any time soon because the rate of interests in larger quantity production of it is not threatened at all.
Farming has been discovered to be the number one investment that many people can be in and still not be able to satisfy the market demands. Garri is such that no matter how much you are able produce it, once it’s of some high qualities of internationally acceptably standards, you are sure to be shaken hands with full time exporters that are into millions themselves and which you would become by having business dealing with them.
If you’re looking for a cassava processing business to start, the garri production business in Nigeria is a great place to start.
Facts And Benefit Of Garri
- Garri is great for bodyweight management
- Garri is high in fibre and helps aid digestion
- Garri contain vitamin B17 which helps prevent cancer
- Garri helps soothe diarrhoea
- Garri contains vitamin A which helps improves eyesight
- A cup of garri contains 15% of your daily folate requirement and 47% of the daily calcium requirement.
- Garri helps strengthen your immune system.
- Garri is high in carbohydrates which provides energy.
- Garri is gluten-free
- Garri is gotten from cassava tubers
Challenges In Garri Production In Nigeria
Here are some challenges that can affect starting garri production in Nigeria, Africa, or many other places around the world:
- Lack of high-quality storage facilities
- High transport cost
- Lack of fundings to purchase machines for mass production
- The high cost of production materials
- Poor government incentives for garri producers
- Poor funding of research activities
- Pests and diseases
- Lack of capital for large scale production
- Lack of adequate government assistance
- Lack of funds to import international standard processing machinery
How to Start Garri Production In Nigeria
The garri production business in Nigeria can be a lucrative and profitable venture to startup, due to its vast market demands and on your own ability to build a wide supply chain network. If you’re looking for a business to venture into, the garri production business in Nigeria is another option to explore due to the ever-rising demand for garri in Nigeria and the affordable cost of the product for the populace.
1). Sourcing The Cassava Tubers:
This is the first and important part of the process. You should buy affordable cassava tubers from local farmers, and ensure they do not just have high starch contents but are also in great conditions.
2). Peeling And Washing:
This is the next stage which is done after sourcing and selecting the cassava. After you peel the cassava tubers, you then wash them.
3). Soaking/Fermentation Process:
At this stage, the cassava is soaked and left to ferment. This improves the quality of the garri and removes all unwanted dirt and taste.
4). Grinding:
After fermentation, the garri is then ground to a fine molten substance.
5). Pressing or Draining:
The ground cassava paste is then put in a bag and squeezed to drain out the water. This draining may take some days.
6). Sieving:
After being left to drain, the cassava paste is now sieved to ensure smooth fine garri.
7). Frying Stage:
This is the final stage of production where the garri is fried in a big frying pan and after that packaged for distribution.
8). Distribution Stage:
This is the stage where you go to the local market to distribute the garri you have produced.
We have to do this because with the right kind of knowledge on how to produce garri in greater quantities, a serious investor stands the chance of raking in millions and could exceed his greatest imaginations base on is possible with garri business.
