Abstract

Generally, the number of smallholder farmers of palm oil increases as the years pass by. This is because of the need for palm oil in most homes in Africa. The main objective of this research was to examine the processes involved in harvesting, processing, and marketing palm oil in Towe (Limbe).

The research adopted a simple random sampling technique for data collection taking into consideration the privacy and well-being of the respondents. A total of 40 questionnaires were administered and 40 were received and analyzed using Microsoft excel 2010 and XLSTAT, 2019 version.

The study reveals that all the farmers use climber and machete as their method of harvesting and artisanal milling as the production method. On objective 1, a cumulative total of 67.5% of the smallholder farmers indicated that their harvesting technique was Excellent (5%), very good (25%), and good (37.5%).

On objective 2, a cumulative of 80% of the smallholder farmers held that the production technique that they use was Excellent (25%),  very good (37.5%), and good (17.5%).  A cumulative of (75%) of the smallholder farmers indicated that they produce a minimum of 50 liters of palm oil per month though 32.5% produce more than 100 liters of palm oil per month.

On their income, a cumulative total of 62.5% of the farmers earn from 20,000 to 60,000 Fcfa a month from the sale of palm oil, while 35% earn greater than 60,000 Fcfa from the sales of palm oil a month.

On objective 4, the main challenge indicated by farmers was a poor farm-to-market road, which ranked first, price fluctuation, inadequate farm tools, limited labour, and limited land respectively. The measures to improve palm oil production and marketing indicated by the farmers were financial assistance by the government, provision of pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, and improved palm seeds.

Also, provision of insurance schemes during changes in season provision of farm tools and road construction. The study concludes that the income of smallholder farmers in Towe does not depend significantly on the production and harvesting technique used, but rather depends on the quantity of palm oil produced and the farm sizes of the smallholder farmers in Towe.

CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.1 Introduction

According to Tinka, (2007) palm oil is usually grown in most parts and equally for marketing in various parts of the world. During the 14th & 17th centuries, some fruits were taken from Africa to South America and from there to Asia. It is generally agreed that oil palm (Elaesis guineensis) originated from the tropical forest of West Africa. In Africa, oil palm is grown in Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo and into the equatorial region of Angola and Congo.

The processing of oil palm fruits for edible oil has been practiced in Africa for hundreds of years and oil produced is an essential product in most of the traditional West African kitchens. The traditional process is usually very tedious involving manual labour and processing tools to crush nuts in order to obtain oil and other products from a palm tree.

According to Norman et al., (2014), and FAO (Food and agricultural organization), (2002). Palm oil is rich in Carotenoids (pigments found in plants and animals). Its economic importance as a high yielding source of edible oils, oil palm are now grown as plantation crop in most countries with high rainfall (minimum 1500mm/year), especially in the tropical climate within 10 degrees of the equator.

The palm bear fruits in bunches (conch) varying in weight from 10-40kg. The individual fruits are seen ranging from 6-20gm and are made up of outer skin (exocarp), pulp (mesocarp) containing the palm oil in a fibrous matrix, and a central nut consisting of a shell (endocarp). The kernel contains an oil quite different from palm oil but resembling coconut oil (Norman et al., 2014).

According to information gotten from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), wild oil palm grown in central and West Africa consist mainly of a thick–shell variety with a tin mesocarp, called Dura. Breeding works particularly by crossing the Durra and a shell-less variety (pisifera) leads to the development of a hybrid with a much thicker mesocarp and a thinner shell.

However, such high yields are rarely achieved in practice because climatic conditions are usually less than ideal. This is because rainfall is not sufficient in some parts of the world and the trees suffer a lot from water-related stress. The wild groves grow mainly in the forest, found in clusters and as a result of natural seed dispersal. The Dura, the main variety found in the grove has been the main source of palm before the modern methods of oil palm cultivation were introduced in Africa in the second quarter of the 20 century.

According to Manchester Art Gallery (revealinghistories.org.uk), in the early 1870s exports of oil from the Niger delta were 25000 to 30000 tons per annum and by 1911, the British west territories exported 87000 tones. The export of palm kernel also began in 1832 and by 1911 British West Africa alone exported 157000 tons of which about 75% came from Nigeria. Nigeria was the largest exporter until 1934 when the country was surpassed by Malaysia.

Africa led the world in the production and export of palm oil throughout the first half of the 20-century led by Nigeria and Zaire. By 1966, Malaysia and Indonesia had surpassed Africa’s total palm oil production.

Oil and facts internationalwww.ofimagazine.com (March 2006), brings out the fact that Cameroon’s palm oil industries and peasant sectors is small but the country has the potential to grow oil palm and supply the central African region. Oil palm plantation farming in most parts of Cameroon as well as in Towe is basically for subsistence.

According to statistics from the ministry of agriculture and rural development Cameroon produced 265000 metric tons of cholesterol-free red palm oil in 2011-2012. The major companies producing palm oil is Cameroon Development Cooperation (CDC), SOCAM palm, and many smallholder plantations. The major regions that produce palm oil in Cameroon are Southwest, Littoral to Kribi in the Southwest region, Centre, and part of the northwest region of Cameroon.

The cultivation of oil palm by farmers in Towe (Limbe) started in 1997 and they started their first harvest in 2001 which the yield was very small as compared to what they harvest now. Also, other information gotten from FACIG (Farway Common Initiative Group), at that time, the farmers started by crushing nuts with their legs since there were no machines available. After some years had passed 2002-2003, one of the farmers bought a local machine which all of them were using until now that everyone has a milling machine in his or her farm.

The palm tree is considered black gold. Every household at Towe has or owns a parcel of land with palm trees. The palm nuts are harvested twice a week or every week, processed for oil, and sold in “Afa club” (bush market) or in the big markets in Limbe. Young boys and some of the adults do the harvesting while women, children, and even men are involved in gathering, picking, boiling, and milling. The work is very cumbersome for women since they have the preoccupation of cooking and laundry just to name a few and other farm activities like clearing, tilling, planting, and weeding other products like vegetables as well as managing the home. They also as well cultivate plantain.

By-products are used as cooking fuel to support heat from firewood. Lastly, palm wine is also extracted from palm trees in these farms which also helps in generating income for the farmers.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Rainfall has been noted to be a major factor affecting the growth of oil palm because, during the rainy season, the walls of the palm trees become slippery which reduces output. This becomes a problem because palm nuts cannot be harvested due to the slippery nature of the palm trees and fear of the risk of falling off the tree. Also, due to heavy rainfall palm nuts rarely gets ready or ripen due to too much cold.

Price fluctuation and prices at which farmers sell farm produce make farmers remain poor. This price fluctuation is as a result of seasonal variation in the quantity of palm oil produced. From the months of November to April there is always a high yield in palm oil production and prices usually fall due to excesses of product in the market. During periods of shortages when the harvest is low, from May to October prices rise as a tin of oil becomes very expensive and due to scarcity.

Poor conditions of the road also constitute a problem to the farmers in Towe leading to difficulties in transporting the oil produced. Logically, with the situation of poor farm-to-market roads and unfavorable weather conditions in the rainy season, farmers stress a lot to carry the oil to the markets due to poor earth roads and lack of bridges on small streams. Also, due to this, farmers tend to increase the price of oil in the market making it difficult for non-farmers who do not have enough money to buy the oil and they cannot meet up with the quantity they need.

Lastly, the production is usually strenuous and time-consuming. This is because it involves the use of human labour where a manual machine is used in squeezing the oil from the nuts by continuous turning of the wheel. All this requires a lot of human energy and may affect the quality of the oil produced and thus, the price and income of the farmers.

1.3 Research Questions                                            

The following are questions that will be used in my research which is evaluating the harvesting, processing techniques, and marketing of palm oil on the income of smallholder farmers in Towe.

1. How are palm nuts harvested by farmers in Towe?
2. How is palm oil processed and marketed in Towe?
3. What are the challenges faced by farmers in Towe in the production of palm oil and marketing of palm oil?
4. What measures can and or has been put in place to overcome the challenges faced by the farmers?