Cassava is a root and cash crop that generates income for a large number of households around the world. Cassava, the root from which garri is produced, is rich in fiber, copper, and magnesium. Garri is made from processed cassava tuber, which is made from the fresh starchy cassava root.
There are two types of garri, including white and yellow garri. Yellow garri is prepared by adding palm oil just before the fermenting stage of the cassava mash. Alternatively, it can be made using the yellow-fleshed breed of cassava. White garri, on the other hand, is fried without palm oil.
Do you know that you can make money and profit by processing cassava into garri because all parts of the cassava tuber are useful and can be converted into money? Garri is one of the most consumed staple foods in Nigeria and West Africa.
Stages on How to Process Cassava to Garri
Garri processing is a business that involves the conversion of cassava tubers into garri. The process of making garri involves several stages, which include:
starting with the cultivation of cassava tubers
Harvest and sort your cassava to get started.
Peel the cassava roots into clean mats.
Wash the peeled cassava with clean water and clean the cassava root.
Grate the cassava roots into a mash using a grinding machine.
Ferment the cassava mash to remove hydrocyanic acid. Press the cassava sack to drain the water in the garri jack.
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Finally, fry the grits obtained to form edible garri with a turning stick, which is used to move the garri around during the frying process. After these stages, the cassava tubers are transformed into a dry, granular form known as garri.
Benefits of Garri Processing Business in Nigeria and Africa
High demand: Garri is a staple food in Nigeria and Africa, which increases its demand and guarantees a ready market for garri processors.
High profitability: The profit margin in garri processing is high, and investors make a lot of money from the business.
Low capital requirement: Garri processing does not require a lot of capital to start because it is a small-scale business for entrepreneurs.
Minimal waste: Garri processing involves minimal waste since every byproduct, including cassava peel, brings money.
Employment opportunities: Garri processing creates job opportunities for people, especially in rural areas where employment is scarce.
Health Benefits of Garri
Garri offers many health benefits, such as:
Source of carbohydrates:Garri is a rich source of carbohydrates, which are an important source of nutrients for the human body. It is easily digestible and provides energy for the body.
Low in fat: Garri is a low-fat food, which means that it is healthier than some food products.
Rich in vitamins and minerals: Garri contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, iron, and potassium, which are important for the maintenance of good health.
Making Fortune From Cassava Production
Helps in weight management:Garri can help in weight management because it is low in fat and rich in fiber, which can make you feel full for longer periods of time.
Gluten-free:Garri is naturally gluten-free, and a safe food option for people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
Boosts immune system:Garri is rich in Vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system and protect the body against infections.
Money In Garri Business
Animals eat cassava peels, while humans eat garri that is made from cassava, which implies that no part of cassava is wasted. Garri is sold at different prices across different markets in Nigeria, like in Lagos, Enugu, Aba, Delta, Benin, Ibadan, Ogun, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Imo, Benue, and other states.
The average price of Garri is ₦400 per kg, ₦1,000 per paint and ₦39,000 per 100 kg bag in Nigeria. Garri enjoys widespread acceptance across the country because it can be eaten after being soaked in cold water with sugar or honey. Another way to consume garri is to make pasta with it and serve it with a tasty soup such as egusi soup, okra soup, vegetable soup, and so on.
How to Start Garri Business
Before you start a garri, you need the required capital, which will help you decide if you want to be a distributor or start on a small scale. To start as a small scale distributor, you can start with as little as N50,000 or N200,000; to start as a processor, you need a capital of around #800,000Â to get machinery to start.
Cost of Production And Return on Investment
Selling your freshly harvested cassava tubers to retailers or manufacturers who are going to use them to produce garri will reduce your profit as the cultivator, because you are going to lose the money you would have made from processing them yourself. So it is highly advisable for a large-scale cassava farmer to start and finish the production process in order to gain a profit.
In our market research, we found out that the prices of cassava in the Nigerian market vary from one state to another, but the average price per ton of fresh cassava tubers is between #80,000 and #120,000, cassava starch is between ₦400,000 to ₦500,000, the price per ton of cassava flour is between ₦250,000 to ₦350,000 while the price per ton of garri is sold at the rate of ₦350,000 to #400,000.
