Abstract

The study examines the production of palm oil and distribution in Nkot-Gam village of Yamba land 1800-2016. The origin of the oil palms, the production processes and distribution are examined. To achieve this goal, 45 people were interviewed. Informants were questioned and result proved that palm oil production started as a result of the presence of animals such as elephant, and squirrels.

It was also understood that about 95 % of Nkot-Gam men are involved the in the production. Most informants’ thoughts this was a money-making project and thus claimed they do not have time to discuss with me. Some were willing and expressed the origin and method of production involved in extracting palm oil.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

In Cameroon, palm oil production is an agricultural activity that remained a major source of revenue and consumption to the inhabitants. The people of Nkot-Gam village produce food crops alongside cash crops. The food crops like maize, beans, cocoa yam, cassava, groundnut and plantain are mostly cultivated by the women. Palm oil production in Nkot-Gam village is done by men. Some of the boys at the age 10 start the production of palm oil as thought by their fathers (Emmanuel Tschuin, 2016). They first of all learn how to make the ropes for climbing and follow their fathers whenever harvesting is done.

The production of palm oil in Nkot-Gam village is very important. This is because most peasant farmers have engaged in the activity. It boasts the wellbeing of the people. Most of the inhabitants here are poor in education and the only way they could survived with their families is involving themselves in palm oil production with this, they educated and their children and carry out other socio-cultural activities through the production of palm oil (Nicolas Tsebuin, 2016).

The strength of Nkot-Gam inhabitant depends on how many jugs of oil he can produce in a year. In this light, lazy men and those that have small farmland cannot compare with the hard working and those with large farm lands

This study examines the method and process of palm oil production from 1800-2016. It is mostly best on the primitive method of production.

Statement of Problem

Palm oil refers to the red liquid extracted from palm fruits. This extraction involves some methods and processes. In Cameroon, the production is carried out by the government sector and by individuals. The production of palm oil by the government used modern method like machines used in the various processes for extraction. Some individuals have local mill to extract the oil and this helps to save time and reduce stress.

This study examines the production of palm oil in Nkot-Gam using the primitive method. This is because works on palm oil production by economic scientists have neglected the origin and changes in the method and process of production over the years. In attempting to look at the palm oil production in Nkot-Gam village, the study intends to close the academic gab by providing a historiography of the production of palm oil in Yamba land.

Objectives of Study

The main objective of the study is to examine the method and process of palm oil production in Nkot-Gam village from 1800-2016.

The sub objectives of the study are to:

1. -Examine the geographical, economical and historical background of the Nkot-Gam people.
2. -Trace the origin of palm oil production and distribution methods.
3. -Assess the impacts of palm oil production and to other by-products on the Nkot-Gam inhabitants.

Significant of the Study

The work would be beneficial to Nkot-Gam indigenes; those born in the village and those born out of the village. The result is that they will be dynamic to change from their primitive method of extracting palm oil to modern method since we are in global world and have to meet up with the changes taking place.

This work will also benefit the indigenes academically because it would add more knowledge to their understanding about palm oil production and will as well help them to know the origin and changes that have taken place.

Scope and Delimitation

This study is carried out within the Nkot-Gam community. It covers the period from 1800-2016. The period 1800-2016 has been chosen because it marked the beginning of effective European scrambling in the 1880s and latter German control from 1884 in Cameroon and the introduction of legitimate trade by the Europeans.

When slave trade was abolished, the Europeans introduced another system of trade which involved the exchange of Cameroon raw materials with their manufactured products. The Nkot-Gam people exchanged palm oil with Europeans goods like drinks, cloth and others. Even with the end of German rule in 1914 and the partition of Cameroon between France and Britain, the indigence of Nkot-Gam continuously adopted the aspect of trade with palm oil.