INTRODUCTION
Plantain is a staple food that is very popular in the tropical regions.
It is the tenth most important food staple that feeds people of all races around the world.
Plantain is treated in much the same way as potatoes and it comes with similar natural flavor and texture when the unripe fruit is cooked by steaming, boiling or frying.
Plantain fruits all year round, which makes the crop a reliable all-season staple food, particularly third world countries like Nigeria with inadequate food storage, preservation technology and transportation
In Africa, plantains and bananas provide more than 25 percent of the carbohydrate requirements for over 700 people.
Plantains thrive in tropical regions where the warm temperature, bright sun and adequate moisture create optimum growing environments.
Tropical soils, however, are not always suitable for plantain production.
Tropical regions of the world, including the plantain producing regions of southeastern Nigeria, often exhibit soils that are nutrient poor, that’s what scientist says but experience has proved contrary.
There is hardly any part of Nigeria that you wouldn’t see plantain growing.
That means it can do well on most Nigerian soil.
Plantain is highly demanded for today in the market because it is a delicacy, an easy to come by source of carbohydrate, protein and vitamin A.
It also has other medicinal effects on the body.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF PLANTAIN FARMING AND PLANTAIN PROCESSING BUSINESS PLAN
The demand for plantain flour is increasing day by day especially with the increasing reported cases of diabetes, therefore, the demand, health considerations and rising standard of living contribute in no small measure to the increasing demand for plantain flour.
With an estimated population of over 170 million people, the demand is more than 190% higher than the current supply.
The demand for plantain flour in the international market is equally very high especially in Europe and the U.S.A.
ACA plantain farm and plantain processing company also target a segment of the market in the USA With a $420/ kg retail price of plantain this is a good investment.
Plantain flour has been found to be very healthy food rich in high energy.
The national demand is estimated to be 350,000 tonnes per annum.
MANAGEMENT TEAM OF ACA PLANTAIN FARMING AND PLANTAIN PROCESSING BUSINESS PLAN
ACA plantain farm and processing company is a business owned solely by Mr. Richard a household name in the agro-allied sector of Nigeria’s economy.
He has over 15 years experience as a large scale farmer and also as a farming consultant.
The business owner coupled with his seasoned expatriates in the agro business will manage the business to generate cash for profit and expansion.
They will bring their wealth of knowledge, operational skills, packaging skills, and their customer service to the plantain processing business.
THE LOCATION
ACA plantain farm and processing company is strategically located in Ekiti state Nigeria a state notable for its bountiful yield of plantain annually, the state belongs to the plantain producing region of southwest Nigeria
This is a set up with a dedicated and committed vision, to thrive and grow into one of the best Agro based industries in Nigeria, which has taken advantage of the abundant raw materials in its vicinity to produce one of the best sought after products in the market today.
OUR AIM AS A BUSINESS is not only to make profit but also become a leading company that can compete favorably with other plantain processing businesses in Ekiti state and also in the whole of Nigeria.
To be able to effectively compete against our competitors, we ensured that we hire the best professionals in the industry so as to build the perfect business structure.
OUR VISION
To become one out of the top five best sought after plantain farm and processing plant brands in Nigeria laying a footstool in the global market of plantain products business.
OUR MISSION
- Creating a standard plantain processing plant, which will be one of the best in Nigeria.
- Serving innovative plantain products at pocket friendly rates.
- Empowering employees and customers with feasible business solutions.
OPERATIONS
HOW PLANTAIN IS PROCESSED
To process plantain into plantain flour or chips, the following are the steps required:
- Sorting and weighing
First thing is, you sort the raw plantain.
We remove the bad, immature and rotten ones.
This is done manually. The sorting process leaves us with only healthy plantain for production.
After sorting, the company weighs the raw plantain to get the quantity of input.
It is also important during fortification and packaging.
- Blanching
At ACA plantain farm, we soak the selected plantain in hot water for a while to soften peels.
Peeling strong plantains could be a tiring and painful process as any woman would tell you.
Blanching makes this process easier.
- Peeling:
The peeling machine helps to peel the skin.
Where there is no machine, peeling can be done manually.
- Slicing/Chipping machine
The pulp is sliced or chopped into smaller pieces
- Drying
Here the already sliced plantain is dried with a machine.
In some local areas where a drying machine is not available, they dry it under the sun and this usually takes some days.
- Milling
The dried plantain is milled into flour.
- Sieving
Sieving is done to remove the bigger particles thereby obtaining the desired fine particle size.
- Packaging
The flour is packaged in different sizes using moisture-proof packaging material to prevent moisture
MARKET ANALYSIS OF ACA PLANTAIN FARMING AND PLANTAIN PROCESSING BUSINESS PLAN
The identified plantain market is segmented into two categories the ripe plantain focuses on younger generations, who patronizes fast foods/restaurants, boli-plantain roasters, and likes, while the unripe plantains are common with the older generations, who also commands the plantain flour market.
The identified market we would be serving have approximately 2000 restaurants/fast foods, 400 boli joints, thirty local markets, two higher institutions with more than 70,000 students a local government characterized with mixed adults which contributes to the more than 800 tonnes of plantain demanded every 4-5days.
For more detailed, personalized, customized and up-to-date market analysis, request for our business plans today.
MAIN MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT FOR PLANTAIN FLOUR BUSINESS PLAN
- Vi bro sieve
- Power Milling machine with cyclone
- Band Sealing Machine
- Batch Code Machine
- 20 – 25 Kva Generator Set
- Delivery Van
- Safety Equipment and materials
SWOT ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
- The large population of the country ensures a large domestic market for plantain
- Export market available as demand increases from west African community living overseas
- Convenience
- High shelf life.
WEAKNESSES
- Production process are tedious and results in high production costs
- Production is mostly on cottage scales resulting in limited quantities
- Minimal product standardization and quality enforcement
OPPORTUNITIES
- Income generation and rural employment.
- Inclusion of plantain on the list of food reserve will provide expansion.
- Low cost of energy.
THREATS
- High cost of energy
- High cost of packaging materials
- Lack of access to funds for expansion (subject to limitations of investors)
- Poor quality producers who are bringing disrepute to the industry.
- Increasing cost of operation due to the current recession
- Inability of operators to increase selling price arbitrarily to match rising cost of production
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