Product Description: Barbed (sharpened) wire is a very effective means of providing security to a particular area. It essentially consists of two or more steel wires which are fitted with small pieces of pointed barbs-hence the name barbed wire. The steel wires are tightly twisted so that the barbs remain in a fixed position.
Rationale: Barbed wire are used as fences for various buildings and enclosures. They are installed around factories, stores, vegetable and other commercial farms located near urban areas, dairy farms and other establishments which have properties susceptible to theft. Barbed wires are used to keep away animals (wild or domestic) from destroying crops, fruits, vegetables, tress, hay, etc. and to protect such properties from theft and vandalism. The alternative to the use of barbed wire is to build walls around properties or to build fences from wood poles. Walls are expensive and wood poles cause deforestation. In addition, wood poles have shorter service life. So far the use of barbed wire in the Amhara Region is very rare. It is only around some school compounds that barbed wires are used for fencing purposes. Virtually all homes, barns, etc are fenced using wood poles and other dry branches of wood. This has aggravated the problem of deforestation in the Region. The use of barbed wire for fencing can be promoted for replacing the use of wood poles for the same purpose. This is why this project idea is included for promotion by the Region.
Market Potential: There is one small plant near Addis Ababa which produces barbed wire for the whole country; and this plant produces from 300-500 tons of barbed wire per year. The barbed wire requirement of the Amhara Region is met by imports from Addis Ababa. Barbed wire is one of those products which are inconvenient and expensive to transport. Because of increasing economic activities in the Amhara Region the demand for barbed wire will increase in the future. As land is becoming more and more the property of private individuals, more land will be enclosed by fences to (a) separate one piece of land from the other (b) protect properties on the land such as grass, trees, crops, (c) fruits & vegetables, livestock, etc.
Raw Material Source: Steel wire will be imported until such a wire is produced in the country.
Process & Technology: The barbs are first cut to the correct size and the barbs may either be made during the cutting process or sharpened later. The steel were is taken from the roll directly and while the two strands are being twisted together, the pieces of sharpened wire or barbs are fitted into the wire. They are then rolled and packed. Main machines required include special purpose twisting machine, bench grinder, mechanical wire cutter, saws, hand tools, etc.
Estimated Investment: For a plant which can produce 15 tons of barbed wire per month, the estimated investment will be:
i. Buildings/Shades 150m2 at Birr 1000/m2 = Birr 150,000
ii. Machines = Birr 100,000
iii. Working Capital = Birr 80,000
= Birr 330,000
Benefits: Saves regional financial resources, contributes to the conservation of forest resources, and introduces new skills and technology.
Location: Combolcha.