Calculate the profitability of processing cassava into garri, fufu flour, HQCF, chips, or starch. Compare all pathways with local prices, labor costs, and equipment ROI.
| Product | Conversion Rate | Shelf Life | Revenue Multiplier | Entry Cost (USD) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🍺 Garri | 4.5 kg roots → 1 kg | 6–12 months | 2.5–3.5× | $100 manual | West Africa |
| 🍭 Fufu Flour | 3.5 kg roots → 1 kg | 3–6 months | 2–2.5× | $80 manual | West & Central Africa |
| 🌾 HQCF | 4 kg roots → 1 kg | 12+ months | 3–4× | $3,000+ (flash dryer) | Industrial bakeries |
| 🟡 Cassava Chips | 3 kg roots → 1 kg | 6–12 months | 1.5–2× | $50 manual | East & Southern Africa |
| ⚗️ Cassava Starch | 5.5 kg roots → 1 kg | 12+ months | 4–5× | $2,500+ (water-intensive) | Industrial use |
The AfroTools Cassava Processing Profit Calculator estimates the profitability of transforming fresh cassava roots into value-added products. Enter your batch volume, processing method, local costs, and selling prices — and get a full breakdown of revenue, cost components, profit per batch, monthly income, annual projection, and equipment ROI.
Cassava starch and HQCF offer the highest price multiples (3–5× over raw cassava), but require more capital. For small-scale entry, garri processing has the lowest startup cost, established markets, and fastest payback — particularly in West Africa.
Fresh cassava undergoes Post-Harvest Physiological Deterioration (PPD) within 24–48 hours. The flesh turns blue-black and becomes inedible. Processing into garri, flour, or chips extends shelf life from 2 days to 6–12+ months, reducing post-harvest losses from ~30% to under 5%.
High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) is unfermented, white, odourless cassava flour that can substitute 10–40% of wheat flour in bread, biscuits, and pasta. It commands 3–4× the price of raw cassava and targets industrial bakery markets. A flash dryer is required for the quality standard.
For garri, basic manual entry requires knives, basins, a grater, pressing sacks, and frying pans — around USD 100. Semi-mechanised with motorised grater and hydraulic press costs USD 1,000–1,500. For commercial HQCF, a flash dryer is essential at USD 5,000–20,000.
Model raw cassava cost, processing yield, selling price, and waste so garri or flour margins are visible.
Reviewed 2026. Agriculture disclaimer: yields vary by variety, moisture, equipment, labour, and market price. Confirm local buyer price. Source/reference: FAO cassava processing references.
Agriculture disclaimer: yields vary by variety, moisture, equipment, labour, and market price. Confirm local buyer price.
No. It is a planning workflow. Confirm live prices, rules, terms, and source documents before acting.