Olexfarms Limited

Eliminating unhygienic processing, packaging and high cost of garri in Nigeria using automated processing machines and green energy powered factory (Biogas and Solar).

Our solution is a Green Energy-Powered factory for quality Garri processing and packaging using biogas and solar. The factory will contain: Electro-mechanical peelers, graters, hydraulic press for de-watering, fryers, sieve, packaging, and sealing machines. These machines have an average garri processing capacity of 2 tons/hr. 

This project provides an ecofriendly standard for processing High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) from Improved Vitamin-A Cassava variety cultivated by farmers in the rural communities, while promoting healthy consumption and affordability for low-income earners/households. This solution increases garri processing capacity and eliminates the traditional hazardous methods being used in the local communities. This technology will also convert cassava wastes which causes environmental hazards, into biomass for factory energy generation.

We are tackling unhygienic processing, packaging and high cost of Garri in Nigeria. Garri is processed from fried fermented cassava, and it is food for over 200 million Nigerians.  Market demand is estimated at $62,312 for domestic consumption and $343,524 for the export market. However, the annual demand is standing at over 2 Million MT and current national supply at 290,000 tons. 

In southeast region of Nigeria, rural communities depend on Garri farming to earn a living, but due to lack of adequate investment in the production and processing sector, farmers face challenges in cultivating, harvesting and processing cassava. In Anambra state, local processing have left some of these farmers blind, due to continued exposure to smokes from firewood during frying. Sadly, the price of garri has also increased by 400 per cent in the last year; due to the high cost of production. Even with these difficulties, most farmers continue to live below the poverty line, with lots of out-of-school children and other social challenges. In the local markets also, garri is poorly packaged and exposed under public and dusty atmosphere with high chances of bacteria deposits, leaving consumers exposed to unsuspecting health risks.

Our solution is production of “Packaged Garri Brand”. A product finely processed from High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) from Improved Vitamin-A (Yellow) Cassava variety. Our innovative approach is designed to benefit rural communities and the network of farmers losing their harvests for lack of standard cassava value-chain structure. It will lower cost of production, increase affordability and ensure healthy consumption. 

Renewable energy sources like biogas and solar, have proven to be the best alternative for energy generation suitable for Garri factory operation, in line with the SDG 7 – “Affordable and Clean Energy”. This will eliminate the dependence on fossil fuel which overtime causes blindness on users; and high cost of prepaid energy tariff. 

Through our CSR model, we will give back up to 30 percent or more from annual profits towards the sustainable development of the partnering communities. This project supports 11 Global Sustainable Development (SDG) Goals, namely SDGs: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 16, and 17. This solution can be replicated across different states, and scaled up to meet with the huge national demand gap, and indeed the export market! The lowered cost of our garri product offers great opportunity for millions of low income households and the underserved to afford this food at the lowest rates available.

Olexfarms Limited have successfully conducted an in-depth research on agricultural best practices for cassava cultivation and garri production respectively. Our team have identified several economic gaps that have emerged due to the inability to meet market demand, and the strategies to solving these problems. Research shows that up to 87 percent of the domestic garri market demand - about 2 MM tons are yet to be met; due to the rising population and low investment in this sector. Our goal is “Achieving Healthy and Affordable Food for All”. To achieve this, we will scale-up our factory production and processing capacity within the next five year, to complement local production and meet increasing demands in both local and export market. 

We will prioritize increasing public-private partnerships with relevant government agencies, to generate more resources and scale up mechanized cassava cultivation by 100 hectares in the second year and 300 hectares or more in five years. Although cassava is drought-resistant, we shall however consider irrigation system for farmlands to provide constant moisture throughout its growth. 

We will conduct a baseline survey of cassava rural farmers with special attention to low-income earners, and others with social needs, to link them up for credit schemes and advanced farmers’ education leveraging available learning technologies, including mobile apps and SMS where applicable to improve their farming.

We have successfully conducted an in-depth research on agricultural best practices for cassava cultivation and garri production respectively. The traditional ruling council of a rural community located at Nawgu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State Nigeria, have donated up to five (5) plots of land for this project. This success came after we pitched the business and the opportunities which the project will attract to the community;  the drafted MoU between Olexfarms Limited and Nawgu Community has been scheduled for signing by February 2022.

Consultants engaged have developed complete architectural drawings and an estimated Bill of Quantity for a 10m x 29m x 15m standard steel factory building for garri processing. We also researched on alternatives for power supply; hence the choice of the Biogas Generator and Solar Energy and we identified experts based in Lagos, Nigeria for the construction. 

We had obtained quotation for complete set of automated garri processing equipment from dealers in China. Although we had earlier engaged with local fabricators for semi-automated garri processing equipment.

Our innovative technologies are construction of a Green Energy-Powered Garri factory, and the installation of the major machineries required for Garri processing. These machines include: Electro-mechanical peelers, graters, hydraulic press for de-watering, fryers, sieve, packaging, and sealing machines. These machines guarantee standard processing with average garri output of 2 tons/hr. The Green energy technologies to be installed are: the biogas plant and solar energy, to sustain all factory operations. These technologies guarantees reduced energy consumption, reduced emission such as CO2, recycling of our waste, and value addition by lowering the cost of production and increasing affordability. 

We will also rely on renewable energy sources like biogas and solar, as alternative for energy generation for the Garri factory operations, in line with the SDG 7 – “Affordable and Clean Energy”. We shall however also consider irrigation system for farmlands to provide constant moisture throughout its growth.

Garri is a staple food for over 200 million Nigerians.  Market demand is estimated at $62,312 for domestic consumption and $343,524 for the export market. However, the annual demand is standing at over 2 Million MT and current national supply at 290,000 tons. The price of garri has also increased by 400 per cent in the last year; due to the high cost of production.

We therefore plan to serve at least over 20million Nigerians in the first year, 60million in three years 100million in the next five years respectively. This will be achieved by increasing cultivation and production by 10% in the next year, 30% in three years and 50% in five years. 

This project supports 11 Global Sustainable Development (SDG) Goals, namely SDGs: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 16, and 17. To achieve this, we shall commit to a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) model that contributes 30 per cent or more from annual profits towards the sustainable development of the partnering communities. These shall include: Capacity building and support for local farmers’ network on the Global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and organic farming techniques, medical intervention programs, education support for school children, decent work opportunities for young people in the community and clean water systems,  while promoting food security in the region.

Our solution can also be replicated across different states, and scaled up to meet with the huge national demand gap, and indeed the export market!

We will be measuring our progress by achieving the following within the timelines stipulated.

• Minimum annual processing capacity of at least 528 tons of Garri and increase it by 10% in the next year and 50% or more in five years.
• Build and train network of local cassava farmers in Anambra on global Good
• Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Organic Farming techniques to ramp up cultivation of Vitamin A Yellow Cassava Variety for processing by 2023 and beyond.
• Achievement of a highly satisfied rating of 30% from our annual customer survey by 2023, then 35% by 2024, and 80% “Satisfied” or better by 2025.
• Maintain maximum standard of operation, and quality product/service delivery. Contribute positively to the sustainable developments of local communities around us through our CSR model.

The major barrier hindering us from accomplishing our goal is lack of fund. Inability to access required start-up capital for our innovation has affected out plans tremendously. The community members have continually looked up to and called on us, to find out the situation of the proposed project and be assured it will still be executed and in their community.

Another major challenge facing us is lack of important professionals that will take up some other administrative positions of the company to fully perform effectively. There is however, need for a technical support especially on increased capacity strengthening of staff members in areas of organizational management and procedures and best practices in carrying out assigned roles and responsibilities.

Olexfarms Limited is passionate about ending poverty, hunger and preventable diseases through value addition for a healthy and affordable food for everyone. This innovative idea is driven by our team’s unending quest to reduce poverty in rural communities by increasing farmers’ incomes and contributing towards sustainable community developments. Our company is woman-led, and gender-sensitive, made up of six (6) management personnel. Our team members are mostly experienced professionals, with first-hand practical experience in local farming. Their expertise is equally widespread in the areas of Agribusiness, community development, project management, IT consultancy, and company accounting. 

We are consulting with certified experts in various areas of development relevant to this project. We particularly enjoy the services of an Agribusiness consultant based in Kenya. His seasoned experience in community development, especially in supporting women and girls in Agriculture, has been very resourceful in the modelling of all our company policies, and operational tools, to meet the global best practices in areas of Administration, Human resource management, finance, and other operational procedures. We are also committed to a people-oriented corporate social responsibilities (CSR) model to ensure a result-oriented, and impactful partnership with the rural communities.

No organization at the moment.

We do not qualify for this prize because myself and my team are above age 18.

Our innovation and solution qualifies for this prize; as our CSR model provides space to solve other unmet social, environmental, educational, and economic needs of the community members whose major population are Garri farmers. 

We planned to conduct a baseline survey of cassava rural farmers with special attention to low-income earners, and others with social needs. Part of our little findings shows huge gap that exists in other social lives of these garri farmers whose major revenues are proceeds from cassava cultivation and Garri trading. 

Our CSR model therefore covers opportunity capacity building and support for local farmers’ network on the Global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and organic farming techniques, medical intervention programs, education support for school children, decent work opportunities for young people in the community, provision of sanitary pads to women and girls and clean water systems amongst others, while promoting food security in the region.