How do I start cassava chips exporting business?

There are various ways you can get more money from your cassava. Because cassava can spoil very fast after it is harvested, most farmers are unable to process it into forms that have a higher market value.

Are there cassava chips processing plants around you? If you can process your cassava into cassava chips then you stand a better chance of making better returns. Cassava chips are used in the production of animal feed, starch and beer.

As for the startup capital you need, we advise that you visit the Export Promotion Agency in your country (or any Cassava Farmers support group) to find out who the big buyers are and how they want the cassava chips processing. That way, you can plan the size of your business.

Cassava chips machine and cassava chips

Cassava chips processing introduction：

a. Cassava peeling:  Production of cassava chips starts with the peeling of the cassava. Peeling can be done mechanically or manually. Mechanical peelers peel as much as 2,400 –2,500Kg per hour with a wastage rate of 30-40% while manual peeling does 22Kg per man hour and wastage of 20-25%. Mechanical peelers are problematic because of the non-uniform nature of the cassava roots and the irregularity in size which make smooth peeling difficult. Also, the thickness of the skin, the texture and the strength of adhesion to the flesh of the tuber differ from specie to specie thereby making over-peeling and under-peeling possible. As a result of these problems, processors prefer manual peeling for now till the mechanical is perfected.

b. Cassava washing: The peeled tubers are thoroughly washed to remove all dirt and sand that may adhere to them. Export requirements insist that sand content should not be more than 2%.

Cassava washing and peeling machine

c. Cassava chipping: The washed tubers are carted to the chipping machines where they are chipped into small chips of about 1-2 centimetre thickness and 6-7 cm long. The sizes at times depend on the prescription of the order.

Cassava chips machine

d. Cassava chips drying: The wet chips are taken to the Rotary Dryer where they are dried to 12-14% moisture content.

e. Packing: they are then weighed and bagged in 50kg polypropylene bags and stored.