Description
Egusi (also known by variations including agusi, agushi) is the name for the fat- and protein-rich seeds of certain cucurbitaceous plants (squash, melon, gourd), which after being dried and ground are used as a major ingredient in West African cuisine.
Egusi seeds are high in protein and their flavor is said to be close to that of pumpkin seeds. Each seed is oval shaped and whitish in color with a light tan shell. The shelled seeds are ground for use in Nigerian recipes — especially the popular egusi soup.
Egusi soup is a kind of soup thickened with the ground seeds and popular in West Africa, with considerable local variation. Besides the seeds, water, and oil, egusi soup typically contains leaf vegetables, other vegetables, seasonings, and meat. Leaf vegetables typically used for egusi soup include bitterleaf, pumpkin leaf, celosia and spinach. Typical other vegetables include tomatoes and okra. Typical seasonings include chili peppers, onions, and locust beans. Also commonly used are beef, goat, fish, shrimps, or crayfish.
In Nigeria, egusi is very popular among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, the Ibibio people and the Efik people (Calabar people) of southern Nigeria, the Hausa of northern Nigeria and the Edo people, Esan people, and Etsakọ people of the south-west of Nigeria. Yoruba people in general and quite notably the people of Ọsun State – especially the Ijesha people – eat “Iyan and Egusi”, a pounded yam and egusi soup.
The small looking egusi seeds are full of nutrients. These seeds are high with protein and oil contents as it is composed of 30% pure protein and 50% edible oil. These are an excellent source of tryptophan, methionine and arginine. It also has a small amount of calcium and carbohydrate.
The major raw materials for Egusi premix are: Egusi seeds, Meat, Spices / Condiments and Red Oil. Per capital consumption of Egusi is estimated at 1,039,000 tones of Egusi Per annum.
The proposed production capacity is one (1) tons/day at 100% capacity utilization and the plant would operate at 90% of the installed capacity for a single shift of eight (8) hours per day for three hundred (300) working days per annum and producing two million, seven hundred thousand (2,700,000) sachets of 100 g of egusi premix (grinded egusi mixed with red oil, meat and condiments) per annum. The input/output was assumed at 1 / 0.9 tons.
The machinery and equipment for Egusi premix production are locally available and comprises of Washing Machine, Milling Machine / Blender (S/S), Weighing Machine, Dryer, Mixing Machine (S/S), Packaging Machine, Accessories, Generator and Project Vehicle.
