AGRIBUSINESS: CASSAVA GLUCOSE SYRUP-Did you know Cassava glucose syrup can easily be manufactured in Nigeria? It’s Cash Cow Business.


The Untapped Goldmine That Can Turn Esanland Farmers To Millionaires

By Bayo Akomolafe & WPP Jr

(Part 1) Thinking of Agribusiness in Esanland/Edo State or Nigeria, consider investment in Cassava Glucose Syrup Processing

Nigeria spends N291.6 billion ($810 million) yearly to import cassava glucose syrup.


As demand for cassava derivatives continue to rise, manufacturers in Nigeria are spending about N291.6 billion ($810 million) yearly to import cassava glucose syrup to meet local demand.

Also, there is high demand of cassava glucose syrup by manufacturers of industrial starch:

1.      Beer
2.     Food
3.     and candy.

Currently, the country needs 1.8 million tons of derivatives as global price of cassava glucose syrup stands at $450 per ton.

Cassava has some major industrial products, among which are:
·         Ethanol,
·         Industrial starch,
·         Cassava flour,
·         Glucose syrup
·         Sweetener with limitless domestic and export market potential.

However, Nigeria, which accounts for 10 million tons or 20 per cent of the global 50 million tons of the crop annually, lacks capacity to meet the manufacturers’ demand as its produces only 165,000 tons.

Although, it was gathered that the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO - 
http://www.fiiro.org/) has developed a technology for the production of syrup from the crop for various applications in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
According to the National President of Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), Mr. Segun Adewumi, there had been a glut of cassava in the market because the country doesn’t have enough facility to extract the by – products to meet the local and export demand. Cassava potential underutilized in Nigeria, so the potential is enormous especially in respect to processing of the crop.

He explained that the country had the capacity to produce 200 million tons of the crop on a five million hectares of arable land.

He said: “The above 200 million tons of raw cassava can be milled into 50 million tons of industrial starch. At present, industrial starch sells for over
200, 000 per ton, which means we can generate 10 trillion yearly from cassava.”

It would be recalled that Regional Coordinator, West Africa, Duurzame Handel, Cyril Ugwu, had also said at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos that the demand for cassava derivatives had grew to 1.8 million metric tons. He noted that soft drink and beer manufacturers were in need of high quality cassava syrup.

Ugwu said that many big multinational firms were asking for cassava starch, flour and syrup.

He said: “The cassava processors can attest to this fact. The demand is there, so if you can meet their quality specs they will buy from you. Firms told me that high – quality cassava syrup is the best since it is organic.”

(Part 2)

HOW TO PRODUCE GLUCOSE SYRUP FROM CASSAVA?

Cassava glucose syrup production plant
Esanland have the raw materials in abundance all we need now is investors who will tap into this unexplored area of agribusiness, set up industry in Esanland and farmers could be group into cooperative to supply companies with this raw material for processing.

HOW TO PRODUCE GLUCOSE SYRUP FROM CASSAVA?

Glucose syrup is a concentrated aqueous solution of glucose, maltose and other nutritive saccharides obtained from edible starch. Depending on the proportion of the different sugars in the syrup, it may be specifically called a maltodextrin, high maltose syrup or high dextrose glucose syrup.  “Glucose Syrup” is the standard industry term referring to mixed syrup containing glucose, maltose and a range of maltodextrins of different sizes. 

The cassava glucose syrup process is divided into two section: first section is making cassava starch cassava first , the second section is making glucose syrup from cassava starch .This technology could yield economic and social benefits to the farmers who produce the cassava, entrepreneurs who produce the syrup, as well as the end-users. 

The cassava glucose syrup process detail description as below:

Cassava starch making of cassava glucose syrup process.


1.      The cassava starch production line can produce high quality cassava starch from cassava automatically, and then the cassava starch will be used for making glucose syrup.

2.     Starch milk adjustment of cassava glucose syrup process
Starch milk coming from starch plant is adjusted to DS28-32% and proper pH and temperature. Or mix the dry starch with water to reach above condition for next section.

3.     Liquefaction of cassava glucose syrup process
Starch milk is sent to buffer tank then liquefied by jet cooker with the aid of enzyme.

4.     Saccharification of cassava glucose syrup process
The liquefied material is sent to enzyme saccharification tank for reaction. After being kept in holding tube the required DE value of the glucose will be reached. Then the material is sent to flash for cooling then to the neutralization tank for suitable pH value.


5.     Filtration and decolouring of cassava glucose syrup process
Glucose is cleaned by removing the protein and other foreign items in rotary vacuum filter and filter press. Active carbon is needed for decolouring at proper temperature.

6.     Ion exchange of cassava glucose syrup process
Tiny foreign items and bad odour is removed via ion exchange. This equipment is used for high quality product.

7.     Evaporation of cassava glucose syrup process
The glucose is totally cleaned through safety filter then sent to evaporator for concentrating to reach the required DS as final product cassava glucose syrup. 
Our company can supply the complete cassava glucose syrup production line to help the customer produce glucose syrup from cassava roots directly.

Editor/Publisher