The object of this profile is to briefly review the process, technology, raw materials, machinery and equipment, the production capacity and financial implication of establishing milk (soymilk) and yoghurt production.

Milk is extracted from soybeans, the leguminous plant that can grow in all parts of Nigeria, but which currently grows profusely in the middle belt of the country viz; Niger, Benue, Plateau, Kwara States. Soymilk is a beverage that can be taken plain, sweetened, flavored, dairy like, powdered or condensed or pasteurized at much lower price than cow milk. Soymilk has a taste and texture that is almost distinguishable from, has higher protein content and lower cholesterol than cow's milk. It offers a safe alternative for children who are lactose intolerant or allergic to cow's milk and is well suited for making yoghurt and ice cream, cheese and serves as an exceptionally good base for commercial soft serve products.

In Nigeria, the use of soy bean products especially soymilk is relatively new but with the pioneering efforts of some companies that produce different soybean based products is becoming popular and more acceptable in recent years.

Already large scale production and commercial marketing of soy milk as nutrition drink in Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Switzerland, USA etc, has emerged coupled with improvements in soymilk flavour and technologies developed by such companies as Expansao Comercio International Ltd of Brazil.

The soymilk today has appeal to the tastes of diverse cultures.

Most of milk packaging companies in Nigeria have adopted soymilk technologies.

With the increasing awareness of the nutritional value of soymilk, ease of preparation and availability of the raw materials, the market is assured.

It is everyone's delicacy who has tasted it especially school children, workers, oil and young.

As an alternative to cow's milk, it is cheaper in price and the consumption is very high in dry seasons when people take it like other forms of flavoured milk soymilk in the market is flavoured in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and even banana.

It is also used in making yoghurt, ice cream, cheese, soy mayonnaise, soy shakes, soy whipped cream etc.

From direct consumption it can be sold to the down stream industrialists or these sub industries can be incorporated by an interested investor to have an integrated industry.

The advisable economic minimum equipment are a very good laboratory, washing equipment, grinding machines, centrifugal filters, pasteurization unit, cooling system, storage tanks, automatic packer for plastic bags or automatic bottle filling machines etc (for milk in bags and bottles).

For yoghurt a yoghurt processor is required, with dosing system. For creamy cheese, a cream cheese processor, dosing system and cooling chambers are required.

For details on the procurement and installation of the required machines, prospective investors should contact the writer.

The raw materials needed to produce soymilk are good quality soy beans, water, sugar, flavouring agents (vanilla, coffe, honey, banana, strawberry, orange malt, egg, chocolate etc), stabilizers, colouring agents, packaging material, caustic soda, and sodium hypochlorite.

Most of these are locally available at any of the Nigerian markets.

The production processes are simple and would be demonstrated to prospective investors in a well packaged comprehensive and bankable feasibility studies report.

The plant has the capacity of producing 1 tonne per day. It can produce 250 metric tones of concentrated soymilk in a year working for average of 250 days. The cost of the set of machines with an equipment production capacities are shown below Capacity of 150 l/h US$16,630

Capacity of300 1/h US$20,513

Capacity of 500 1/h US$27,573

Capacity of 1000 1/h US$39,754

Capacity of 2000 1/h US$46,665

Capacity of 3000 1/h US$60,200

The prospective investor would have the right to decide on the level to go into.

From investment analysis, an estimated sum of N10, 411,160 =to set up a medium scale plant using imported machines.

From analysis also, the profit figure of N5,94O, 400 would be made with one year of operation representing profit on turnover of 29.47%. Profit on investment recorded 76.63%. More profit would be made if the prospective investor optimizes his or her product mix.

The writer can assist any prospective investor in successful going into this venture. The full scale and bankable feasibility study is needed to implement the project.

Before embarking on the actual project implementation, up to date Performa invoices should be obtained from at least three different manufacturers of the required machinery and equipment to enable the prospective investors do a realistic comparative study of the manufacturers' competence, their product costs and technology.