Making an informed decision on product varieties or type to prioritize based on the environment and economic of scale could be the major factor that seperate the prosper from the failures in any business. This situation applies to many Commercial Garri Processors in the South West Nigeria and some also in the South East.

Only few Commercial Garri Processors in the South West give consideration to the production of Yellow Garri type. Meanwhile, apart from the fact that the consumption of this garri variety is very huge in Lagos and other cities in South West, Yellow Garri commands higher market price than the white garri that almost every Processors are focusing on. Apart from the large population of people from SE and SS who patronize this Yellow Garri in these areas, its consumption in making eba among the Yorubas has gained tremendous popularity of over the years. Yellow Garri is generally preferred in making eba because of its attractive colour, friendly taste with every soup types, its dramatic elasticity and its perceived additional nutritional benefits due to its fortification with palm oil.

For a Commercial Garri Processor operating in South West, it makes a lot of sense to give higher priority to the production of Yellow Garri. We mentioned that it commands higher market price than the regular white garri. It also important to mention that it gives higher quantity output for every 1 ton of tuber used in production compare with white garri. This is because of its higher residual starch content due to its no - fermentation production process.

Apart from all these points noted, it has low production competition in the South West as majority of the local/cottage garri processors are not into its production. Chunks of yellow Garri consumed in Lagos are supplied from Delta state, Benue state and few of other SE states. I know of about five different market locations in Lagos where trailer loads of Yellow Garri are offloaded every week. The fact that Processors in the South West has proximity advantage to Lagos should give them a comparative market price competitiveness and better penetration.

Same scenario applies to many Commercial Processors in the South East. There is a growing market for unfermented white garri in Port Harcourt city that not yet fully tapped. On many occasions, bulk buyers from Port Harcourt have contacted me to produce this type of garri and shipped to them from Ogun state. Of course, high cost of transportation does not always make this dealing friendly and they often look towards Benue state for such supplies. This business opportunity keeps slipping away to other areas while almost all Commercial Processors within the area keep competing with their local processors for saturated Yellow Garri market.

It is worth to note that production of Yellow Garri and unfermented white garri could be more tasking than expected especially for those who have not produced them before. In addition to getting good mechanical mixer (for the yellow garri) and Hydraulic Press with railings to ease the dewatering problem that is always labourious due to high starch content of the mash, it is very important to get one or two locals who are well accustomed to this production process even if your factory is fully mechanized or automated.

(This is cupped from my e-book on HOW TO RUN A COMMERCIAL GARRI PROCESSING BUSINESS PROFITABLY and give my special apology to those who have paid for it)

You too can access the e-book at the going discount price of N2000. Simply chat me up on WhatsApp by clicking https:///2348100975775.

Having knowledge of products/varieties offers as applies to different environments, Production process adaptations and improvised mechanisms are few among the tricks we all need to keep our heads above the water in the present challenging business environment we found ourselves.

God no go shame us!
Kazeem Lamidi
https:///2348100975775

God no go shame us