How to Start Banana Wafer Manufacturing Business in 8 Steps

Do you want to start a banana wafer-making unit on a small scale? If so, read this detailed business plan guide on starting a banana wafer manufacturing unit with low investment.

Bananas are one of the most profitable cash crops in India. It is grown widely across the country in about 4.83 lakh hectares of land with a production of about 16.17 million MT.

In addition, people consume it in several varieties of preparations and forms. The major share of banana production in the country is consumed in fresh form. Bananas are highly perishable in nature. However, you can preserve it by processing it to produce banana pulp, banana chips, banana powder, etc.

8 Steps to Start Banana Wafer Manufacturing Business

The banana wafer is an innovative product. It is a thin slice of banana that is deep-fried until crunchy. Banana chips are commonly served as an appetizer, side dish, or snack. The chips are cooked and salted. Additionally, you can produce different varieties using various flavourings and ingredients including seasonings, herbs, spices, cheeses, and artificial additives.

1. Market Opportunities

The processed food industry ranks fifth in size in the country, accounting for 14 % of the total industrial output and 6.5 % of GDP. There exists a very large market for chips and they can be sold at various retail outlets, pawnshops, bus stands, railway stations, roadside eateries, etc.

There also exists an institutional market consisting of clubs and other institutions, school & college canteens, army establishments, bars & pubs, railway, and airline caterers, etc. Additionally, good-quality banana wafers have also export potential. Also, the Govt. of India has allowed a tax holiday for five years for the food processing industry.

2. Create a Banana Wafer Manufacturing Business Plan

It is essential to create a banana wafer making a business project plan not only to develop a roadmap for future activities but also to pitch for funds to investors.

It is advised to get help from professional business plan writers so that every minute detail is included in your plan document.

3. Banana Wafer Making Business Registration & License

You will need to apply for registrations and licenses from concerned authorities.

• First of all, register your business with ROC. For a Micro and small unit, you can register a  proprietorship firm. However, if you are starting on a large scale, LLP and Pvt. Ltd. options are recommended.
• Additionally, obtain a Trade License from the Municipal Authority
• Register with Udyog Aadhaar MSME. This is optional. However, it will help you in getting different Govt. subsidies and grants.
• Also, Apply for GST Registration
• Compliance with the FPO Act is mandatory.
• Apply for a Food Business Operator License. It is mandatory for packaged food processing and selling in India.
• Finally, obtain a Factory License.

4. Banana Wafer Making Machine & Unit Setup

Any individual can initiate a small and medium-scale banana wafer-making unit on a semi-automatic basis. To produce, 50 tons of banana chips every year with the working of two shifts and 300 working days, you will need to have the following machinery.

• Slicer made of SS with attachments and electric motor
• Electrically-operated dryer with trolleys and 96 trays
• Oil sieve
• Automatic Sealing Machine
• Coal-fired Furnace
• Cutting and peeling knives, aluminium utensils, weighing scales, etc.
• DG set

First of all, you must select a well-drained site with good connectivity with the roads. It should be preferably in a raw material production area or at the consumption center. Additionally, you must keep the hygienic condition of the surroundings while selecting the site. Water and power in sufficient quantities and qualities must be available.

You can also establish a fully automatic banana chip or banana wafer-making unit. It will save manpower costs. However, a huge amount of production is also possible with this type of unit.

Related: Things To Consider In Starting a Product-Based Business

5. Banana Wafer Making Raw Materials

Some of the popular varieties of bananas suitable for chip manufacturing are Nendran, Cavendish, and Pachabale.  Other materials required are salt, edible oil, spices, and flavours. But their quantities shall be very small. Printed polyethene bags and corrugated or cardboard boxes would form the packing materials.

6. Banana Wafer Making Process

The banana wafer-making process is simple.  It involves visual inspection and sorting of damaged bananas and washing them in water. Then do the peeling and trimming before slicing or cutting them to the required size. Additionally, wash and dry them once again. Then fry them and mix either salt or other spices/flavours homogeneously.

After cooling them, pack the wafers in pouches or plastic bags. In banana wafer making, organic wastes like banana peels, etc. are decomposable and biodegradable.

7. Cost of Small Banana Wafer Manufacturing Unit

The banana wafer manufacturing cost will depend mainly on the cost of the machine and the production output.

If we choose a machine that can deliver 100 kg of banana wafer per day, the approximate cost of a wafer manufacturing machine will be around 3 Lac Rupees and onwards. The overall investment will be around 15 Lacs out of which working capital stands at 8 Lacs.

In this scenario, the break-even point turns around 47.77 %.

8. Have a Marketing Plan

A properly planned marketing strategy is one of the most important factors for establishing a successful banana wafer manufacturing business. Furthermore, a robust product distribution network will play a key role in the success of the manufacturing unit.

This is a sample estimated banana wafer manufacturing project cost. It is subject to deviate on change of any of the assumptions. You can modify the project capacity and project cost as per your requirements.

Additionally, going online is almost mandatory for any business to create brand growth. Create a website along with an online store if you want to scale up. Banana wafer making is a profitable business. Along with it, you can also run potato chips making units.