Characteristics of Small-Scale Palm Oil Production Enterprise in Anambra State

Abstract

The study analyzed palm oil production among small-scale processors in Anambra State, Nigeria. All the palm oil producers in Anambra State formed the population of the study. Multi-stage, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used in the selection of 120 respondents for the study. Data were collected from primary source through validated interview schedule. Data were presented and analyzed using percentage, mean score and factor analysis. The results of the findings revealed that: mean age, household size, palm oil processing experience, of the palm oil processors were 48.67 years, 7.00 and 18.25 years, respectively. Majority processed dura (local variety) palm fruits; were full-time palm oil processors; did not belong to any cooperative, practiced traditional methods of palm oil processing; threshed their palm fruit manually; sterilized or cooked bunches/fruits by the use of hot water; used hand pressing; marketed their palm oil in milk cup/bottle/gallon; and used NIFOR /Stork hydraulic hand press. The findings further showed that, the mean annual quantity, revenue, cost and profit of palm oil production were 174.67 litres, N 65,667, N 26,000 and N 35,667, respectively, implied that palm oil production in the area was profitable. The major constraints to palm oil production under factor analysis were issues related to technology, productivity and socio-economic constraints. The need to improve productivity by encouraging increased use of modern technologies and ensuring good markets for the palm oil produce to encourage more farmers to take up the enterprise was recommended.