The seeds are rich in oil and protein and are also found
in cucurbitaceous plants such as gourd, squash and melon. The seeds are harvest,
dehulled and dried before culinary application.
Egusi is grown primarily for its seeds because of their
high economic value. As a major ingredient in soup the dehulled seed are
coarsely ground and added to soup. They could be roasted, fermented, boiled or
soaked depending on the meal of choice.
Top Egusi
Producers
The cucurbitaceous
plant is grown widely in West Africa. Top producers are Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin
and Cote d’ivoire. Others are Burkina Faso, Togo, Mail and Ghana.
- Nigeria
- Cameroon
- Benin
- Cote d’ivoire
- Burkina Faso
- Togo
- Ghana
Benefits
of Egusi
Egusi contains 23.4% protein, 45.7% fat, 10.6%
carbohydrate. Others are phosphorous, essential amino acids such as methionine
and leucine and 12% fibre.
Once the Egusi seed are harvested they are sun dried and roasted.
It contains high content applicable to livestock feed, margarine or butter.
Culinary dishes made from Egusi are the delicious Egusi soup,
Egusi stew, mixed vegetable and Egusi and Egusi sauce. Experiments show that Egusi
has active properties for treatment of arthritis, inflammations and treatment
of boils.
Other medicinal properties include appetite booster,
anti-diabetic properties and dermatological properties. Some livestock feed makers include Egusi in
the ingredients.
Food
Applications
- Livestock feed
- Margarine
- Butter
- Egusi soup
- Egusi stew
- Mixed vegetable
- Egusi sauce.
- Parched snack
Medicinal
Applications
- Treatment of arthritis
- Inflammations
- Treatment of boils
- Appetite booster
- Anti-diabetic properties
- Dermatological properties
Planting
Egusi Melon
The Egusi melon plant grows easily in different terrain. They
are rugged, durable and distinguished by climbing tendrils.
The farmer first tills the land and adds manure. He then
plants a few seeds in a hole 3 inches deep.
Water the farm regularly and the wonder plant starts
growing within a week. Make sure the farm is properly tendered to avoid
competition from weeds.
Processing
Egusi
Processing Egusi is labor intensive and time consuming. The
Egusi seed needs to be harvest from the watermelon looking fruit. The fruit is
left to decompose before removing the seed.
The decomposition is achieved using any three methods. They
open the shell and lay faced down, burying the fruit or crack the shell and
heaped into a mound.
The seed is then harvested or removed from the in-edible
fruit. It is a dirty smelly process not for the faint hearted. Once harvested
it goes through washing sorting, roasting or frying.
- Harvest the fruit
- Fruit Left to rot
- Seed harvested and removed
- Washing the seed
- Sorting
- Roasting or frying.
Egusi
Wholesale, Retailers Business
The best option for an entrepreneur is to go into Egusi wholesale
or retailing. This is because you stand to make over 100% on your investment.
For example the major producers of Egusi are in northern Nigeria.
They sell the product in mudu/modu about 9 small cups.
A mudu is sold about $1 while in an urban city like Lagos
a cup is sold for .50cents. Once the transportation is factored a wholesale or
retail merchant stands to earn $2000 on a sale of 20 bags.
Egusi
Storage
The seeds once processed can store for a very long time. They
are durable and retain the economic value.
However extensive storage might impact on the color and
nutritional quality. The seeds should be stored in a dry location away from
pests or rodents.
Egusi
Storage Business
There are a few things to consider before starting an Egusi
storage business. You need working capital to buy produce in large quantity.
Other funding requirements are adequate storage facility,
transportation cost and labor. Other considerations are sourcing and marketing
the product.
Incorporation is not mandatory but would aid loan
applications. Make sure your write an Egusi business plan and carry out a
feasibility study.
- Working capital
- Adequate storage facility
- Transportation cost
- Labor
- Funding
- Sourcing the produce
- Marketing
- Egusi business plan
- Feasibility study.
Image Attribution-Wikimedia commons, livestrongcdn.com
