Product Description: Maize is one of the major crops in the Amhara Region. Production of this crop in the Region in 2002/2002 was 6.53 million quintals which was about 19 percent of the total grain production of the Region. Most of the maize production is consumed in the villages where it is produced, but some surplus is sold to the urban population.
Rationale: About 25 percent of the production of maize is assumed to be sold to urban markets where it needs grinding by modern mills. The existing grain mills are technically suitable for processing other grains mainly wheat, barley, teff, etc. Considering the volume of maize production of the Region, there is a need to establish some small milling plants for maize in the Region.
Market Potential: Maize flour is used for making different types of food. It is also mixed with teff or wheat flour to make injera or bread. In some lowland areas of the Region such as Mettema, maize is a staple food. This project idea is to produce maize flour for regional and local consumption using the dry milling process. The present pattern of food consumption in the Region has a sufficient demand for maize flour to justify the establishment of a small scale flour mill for processing maize.
Source of Raw Material: The main source of maize in the Region is the eastern part of the Region along the Woldiya-Debre Sina road.
Process and Technology: There are two types of technologies for producing maize flour; these are wet and dry milling processes. Wet milling is a highly sophisticated and capital intensive process. Pounding, the traditional small scale method of producing maize flour is also very wasteful. This project idea considers an alternative small scale method- dry milling by machine which greatly reduces waste. Dry milling is done using power mills such as hammer mills and plate mills. In this process, the relatively hard and tough peels and embryos are thoroughly broken up and incorporated in the meal together with the starch. The starch provides calories for energy and the peels and embryos supply oil and protein.
Estimated Investment:- For a plant which will process 500 tons of maize per year, the estimated investment will be:
Building 250 m2 at Birr 1500/m2 = Birr 375,000
Machinery Birr 100,000
Working Capital Birr 50,000
Total Birr 525,000
Benefits: Stimulates maize production in the region, further diversifies the supply of food for the urban population, and introduces new skills and technology to the Region.
Location: Gondar, Combolcha, Woldiya.