TRADITIONAL STEPS OF PALM OIL (Elaeis guineensis) PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This review examines the local steps that are involved in the palm oil production in Nigeria, which includes; harvesting palm fruits from palm trees, collecting the bunches of palm fruits to a spot, splitting the palm fruits bunches into smaller pieces known as spikelets, removal of palm fruits from spikelets, boiling of the palm fruits to soften its mesocarp, removal and grinding the palm fruits mesocarp from its endocarp, separation of palm oil from other constituents, heating the crude palm oil to obtain refined palm oil, packaging the palm oil in various sizes of sealed containers such as plastic container. Local technique of palm oil production is cheap and readily available, but it comes with poor yield. However, modern technique (the use of machine) is expensive, though, but it makes the process easier and faster, and enhances commercial palm oil production.