Product Description: Mosquito coils are insecticides and effective mosquito repellent made from powdered dried pyrethrum flower. In the early stage of use, mosquito coils took the shape of an incense stick used in households, but they were gradually improved to the present spiral form so that they could keep burning for as long as possible. The spiral coil has a burning time of more than seven hours. The raw material of the mosquito coils is pyrethrum (vermifuge chrysanthemum) in which the effective component for killing mosquitoes is pyrethrum. Pyrethrum is efficaous against insects such as mosquitoes, flies, etc. But it is also completely harmless to warm-blooded animals including human beings.
Market Potential: malaria is one of the major killer diseases in the Amhara Region. More than 40 percent of the area of the region is prone to be a breeding ground of mosquitoes that cause malaria. After many years of being under control, malaria has been affecting large parts of the region during the last 10-15 years. For example, the Bahir Dar area was relatively free from malaria during the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. But during the 1990’s up to now, malaria has been a serious problem in Bahir Dar. This is true in malaria prone areas of the Region; Now all the “Kola” and lower “woinadega” climatic zones of the region are seriously affected by malaria. Every year, thousands of people and tens of thousands get sick die from malaria. Given this situation, people want to use every type of preventive measures against malaria. Mosquito coils are probably the most convenient and least expensive means of protection against mosquitoes. About one third of the populations of the Amhara Region live in malaria prone areas. This amounts to close 6.5 million people. With this number of people under the danger of being infected by malaria every year, there is enough demand for mosquito coils in the Region.
Source of Raw materials: The main ingredients for making mosquito coils are extracted residue of pyrethrum or powdered dried pyrethrum flower, Machillus Thunberg and saw dust of cedar or cypress. These main ingredients could be produced at home.
Process and Technology: The main stages of preparing mosquito coils are preparation of raw materials, blending of sub-materials, kneading, punching and moulding, drying and packing. Main machinery and equipment required include atomizer, mixer, kneader, crusher, extruding machine, size cutting machine, mould punching machine, conveyor, dust collector carts, boiler, wire nets, etc.
Estimated Investment: For a plant that will produce about 100,000 mosquito coils (14 gms each) per day, the estimated investment will be:-
Buildings/shade 1500m2 at Birr 1500/m2 = Birr 2,250,000
Machinery …………………………………= Birr 2,500,000
Working capital …………………………… = Birr 800,000
Total = Birr 5,550,000
Benefits: saves the lives of tens of thousands of people every year, protects hundreds of thousands of people of the region from being infected by malaria, keeps the people of the region healthy and productive.
Location: Combolcha, Bahir Dar, Gonder, Woldiya, Kemissie.