Mobile Cassava Processing Plant

Transforming Cassava, Mobile Processing for Sustainable Agriculture

The specially constructed MCPP consists of modern processing machinery and an electricity generator housed on a six-wheel machinery carrier equipped with a loader crane. Both the back sides and the tailgate of the truck open flat to form a larger flatbed, platform or processing workspace. Depending on the product for which the mobile machinery was tailored, processing operations can be completed on the workspace combined with the ground-level workspace. Specific standard operating procedures are used for processing the product of choice.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

6•6

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 6/9; level of use 6/9

Cost: $$$ 40000—48500 USD

Cost of a mobile processing factory

ROI: $$$ 156 %

Gari production

52900 USD

Startup Capital (gari production)

49386 USD

Startup capital (high-quality cassava cake)

155 %

ROI (high-quality cassava cake)

IP

Open source / open access

Problem

Scarcity of Fresh Cassava for Processors: Industrial processors in cities face operational challenges due to insufficient fresh cassava supply. Unreliable raw material availability hinders consistent production.
Inaccessibility of Rural Roads: Rural areas lack accessible roads, limiting market access for cassava farmers. Farmers face reduced market opportunities and increased transportation difficulties.
Lack of Infrastructure in Rural Areas: Insufficient infrastructure in rural settings discourages investments in fixed processing factories. Hindered economic development in rural areas and limited processing capabilities.
Risk of Postharvest Losses: Cassava's perishable nature poses a risk of significant postharvest losses during transportation. Economic losses for farmers and reduced overall supply chain efficiency.
High Transportation Costs: Transportation costs are elevated due to the bulkiness of fresh cassava roots during transportation. Increased operational costs and reduced competitiveness of city-based processing factories.

Solution

Stable Cassava Supply for Processors: On-site processing ensures a stable supply of cassava, overcoming the challenge of insufficient raw material for industrial processors.
Enhanced Market Access for Farmers: Processing at the farm-gate eliminates the need for transportation over inaccessible rural roads, reducing market access limitations for farmers.
Flexible Processing Independent of Infrastructure: The mobile nature of MCPP provides a flexible processing solution independent of extensive infrastructure in rural settings.
Minimized Postharvest Losses: Immediate on-site processing with the MCPP minimizes the risk of postharvest losses by converting cassava into shelf-stable products right after harvest.
Reduced Transportation Costs for Factories: Processing cassava at the farm-gate with the MCPP allows the transport of less bulky and semi-processed products to central factories, mitigating the financial burden on processing factories.

Key points to design your business plan

The Mobile Cassava Processing Plant technology may be of interest to users (food industry).

Users

Implementing the Mobile Cassava Processing Plant (MCPP) brings notable benefits to cassava processing efficiency.

Key collaborators include manufacturers specializing in mechanized equipment tailored for mobile cassava processing as TAAT Cassava Compact.

When analyzing the cost structure, factor in both equipment purchase and maintenance expenses. The cost of a mobile processing factory, including electricity generator and the six-wheel truck with a loader crane, is estimated at about 40,000 - 48, 500 USD depending on the machinery for the desired cassava products such as gari, wet starch, wet fufu or high quality pressed cake for the production of high quality cassava flour (HQCF).

Account for supplementary costs like delivery fees, import tariffs, and taxes, particularly as the technology may originate from Nigeria.

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive low

Under 18: Positive high

Women: Positive high

Climate adaptability: Moderately adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Environmental health: Does not improve environmental health

Water use: A bit less water used

Carbon footprint: More carbon released

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested

Countries where the technology has been tested and adopted
Country	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–Not tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–	–	–	–
Semiarid	–	–	–	–
Subhumid	–	–		–
Humid	–	–

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Goal 5: gender equality

Goal 13: climate action

Preparation:
- Ensure the MCPP is in good operational condition.
- Verify the availability of necessary raw materials (fresh cassava) at the farm-gate.
Transportation to Farm-Gate:
- Drive the MCPP to the designated farm-gate location.
- Position the mobile unit for efficient processing, considering accessibility and workspace requirements.
On-Site Processing:
- Open the back sides and tailgate of the MCPP to form a flatbed workspace.
- Utilize the modern processing machinery for cassava processing based on the desired product (e.g., high-quality cassava cake, wet fufu, or gari).
- Follow specific standard operating procedures for processing the chosen cassava product.
Product Extraction:
- Obtain the shelf-stable cassava product directly from the processing workspace.
- Ensure product quality and adherence to processing standards.
Transportation of Processed Products:
- Load the processed products onto the MCPP for transport to a centrally located factory.
- Take advantage of the reduced bulkiness of semi-processed products to lower transportation costs.
Centralized Drying and Packaging:
- Transport the semi-processed products to a city-based factory for final drying and packaging.
- Collaborate with centralized facilities for further processing and distribution.
Maintenance:
- Regularly inspect and maintain the MCPP machinery to ensure continuous operational efficiency.
- Address any issues promptly to avoid disruptions in processing activities.
Recordkeeping:
- Maintain records of processing activities, including quantities processed, product types, and any issues encountered.
- Contribute to progress reports as required.