In Africa and other regions, maize meal comes in various categories based on factors like maize type, milling process, and final product quality.
This article will discuss these maize meal categories and their popularity in seven African countries: South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, Kenya, and Tanzania.
If you're considering starting a maize milling business in Africa, this overview from Roff Milling will be helpful.
Maize in Africa overview
Angola
BIRD’S EYE VIEW
Maize yield: 2,3 million metric tons per year (2020)
Maize meal consumption: 100kg per capita, annually (2020)
Preferred type of maize meal: Fuba
Population: 33 million
Most popular grade of maize meal
Fuba is a very fine maize meal used in African (Angolan) cuisine. A more complex milling process is required, which includes the use of a degerminator and a combination of roller and hammer mills to achieve the finer consistency.
Extraction rates offered by Roff mills
Fuba: Between 70 and 74%
Roff Mills used in the region:
Fuba: SP-1F, R-40F, R-70F, C-80F
Kenya
BIRD’S EYE VIEW
Maize yield: 3,6 million tons
Maize meal consumption: 62kg per person per year
Preferred types of maize meal: Grade 1 Sifted and Sifted
Population: 54 million
MOST POPULAR GRADES OF MAIZE MEAL
Grade 1 Sifted2 is a finer maize meal made from white maize and is used to make ugali, a stiff porridge processed with equipment including rollers mills.
Sifted is a lower-grade maize meal made which is coarser in texture and undergoes a less complex milling process than grade 1 sifted meal.
Extraction rates offered by Roff mills
Premium Grade 1 Sifted2 : Between 75 and 80%
Grade 1 Sifted: Between 80 and 85%
Roff Mills used in the region:
Premium 1 Grade Sifted: SP1 Edge, R-40 Edge, R-70 Edge, C-80 EdgeGrade 1 Sifted2: SP-1 Core, R-40 Core, R-70 Core, C-80 Core
Some maize meal prices jump by almost 30%, while bread market remains 'cut-throat'- South Africa
Tanzania
BIRD’S EYE VIEW
Maize yield: 5,7 million metric tons (2018/2019)
Maize meal consumption: 95kg per person per year
Preferred types of maize meal: Coarse meal, fine meal
Population: 61 million
Most popular grades of maize meal
Sembe is a fine meal that is a higher-quality maize meal made from white maize and processed using a more complex milling process including degerminators and a combination of hammer and roller mills. It’s finer in texture and has a lighter colour than other grades of maize meal.
Dona is a coarse meal of a lower-grade maize meal and makes use of a less complex milling process.
Extraction rates offered by Roff mills
Sembe2: Between 70 and 74%
Dona2: Between 80 and 85%
Roff Mills used in the region:
Sembe2 : SP-1F, R-40F, R-70F, C-80F
Dona2: SP-1 Core, R-40 Core, R-70 Core, C-80 Core
