‘Garri processing needs commitment, team work’

Briefly explain how garri processing is carried out? Garri processing starts from getting the cassava from village markets that are near Ilorin town. We get cassava from Dongari, Alapa, Ote and Eyen Korin markets. We purchase a truck of cassava at the rate of N30,000. When we get the cassava, we are now ready to […]

Briefly explain how garri processing is carried out?
Garri processing starts from getting the cassava from village markets that are near Ilorin town. We get cassava from Dongari, Alapa, Ote and Eyen Korin markets. We purchase a truck of cassava at the rate of N30,000. When we get the cassava, we are now ready to start processing. There are many people I have employed to do various aspects of the work to make it a joint effort. Some will peel the cassava and wash everything at the initial stage. The next stage is for the grinders to grind the cassava, after that, the ground cassava will be kept for four days. Then, we package it in various quantities in bags and set them for the jack which will last for 10 hours to ensure that the cassava is completely dry.
Next, the people in charge of sieving the dried cassava will proceed with that production stage and as they sieve, other employees including myself will now be frying the dried cassava and after that we now have what we call garri.
Finally, we re-sieve the fried garri a second time so as to make it blend and eatable. That is the last step in garri processing.
What are the challenges and prospects in garri making?
There are no much challenges in garri processing. Our major problem is during the rainy season with the unfriendly climate. You discover that the ground cassava does not dry on time and everywhere would be muddy, smelly and so on. As a result, we are forced to reduce the quantity of production in order to avoid wastage because at times we may be frying garri and the rain would start suddenly thereby interrupting our work.
Similarly, the firewood also gets wet which makes it difficult for the fire to heat well and that produces smoke everywhere. So we find it difficult frying at this period. Also, when the grinding machine has fault or at times when manpower is not sufficient then we tend to have problem. Apart from these, garri processing is so interesting. The dry season is good for us because we have dry and clean environment, firewood is effective for frying as the wood will be dry enough for use and that makes the work quick and easy for us. Thus, the dry season is very good for garri production. Apart from that, prospects in garri making are so numerous. When you have successfully completed the production and it is ready for sale, automatically you feel relieved as you start getting money from customers.
Another aspect is that, as soon as we finish, customers from different places not only in the state but from other parts of the country like Onitsha, Kano and others always rush to buy our garri.
How will you describe garri making, as a business of subsistence?
Thank God for making everything easy and possible for me with garri business. It is very good and profitable for anybody who is dedicated and committed because it is when you devote your time for the business that you reap the gain. Since I started, I never regretted engaging in it because I am able to send my children to school and even cater for my family through the money I generate from garri business. In fact, one of my children is a graduate now.
Is it possible to start this business with small amount of money?
Yes, you can start the business with little amount of money. I started garri processing as petty trade and today here I am. Before, I bought only a bag of cassava but now I order for trucks of cassava.
What is your word of encouragement for women out there?
Women should find something doing no matter how small so as not to be a liability to their family and their community.