OIL PALM TREE

Palm tree is one of the major crop African farmers relied on for years because of the longevity in life span. Palm tree hold many beneficial advantages. In this write up, we will talk about many attributes associated to oil palm tree. Before digressing further, lets describe what palm tree is.

The oil palm tree, also known as Elaeis guineensis, is said to be a rainforest-friendly crop. It is a tropical native tree to Africa that is grown for its fruit, which can be pressed to make palm oil. Palm oil is one of the most widely used vegetable oils in the world and is found in everything from food to cosmetics to biofuels.It’s a very productive crop. A single oil palm tree can produce up to 20 times more oil per hectare than other oil crops, like soybean or rapeseed.

Oil palm tree

The oil palm tree is a versatile crop. It is an evergreen crop that can grow up to 60 feet tall and has long, fan-shaped leaves. It produces clusters of fruits that are red or yellow when ripe. Inside the fruit is a kernel that contains the palm oil, which is extracted by pressing. The oil palm tree can produce fruits for up to 25 years, and the seeds can be replanted to grow new trees. It’s a sustainable crop. With proper management, the oil palm tree can be grown without the use of pesticides or fertilizers.

palm fruit 

Indonesia has now taken over as the top producer and oil palm and allied industries is now the main stay of its economy. In the early 70’s, Malaysia came to Nigeria to obtain oil palm seedlings and seeds, according to experts. The palm can be used in various ways; the leaves are used in making brooms and as roofing materials (mostly in the rural areas). The bark of the palm tree can be peeled and woven into baskets.

The palm fruit can be processed and the residue obtained can be used as fuel (for cooking and fertilizer to improve soil nutrient). Red Palm Oil is used in Cooking, making soap, candle and margarine. Also Palm Kernel oil can be extracted from the nut, the residue obtained in this process of palm kernel oil extraction is used to as livestock feed and its oil is used in vegetable oil and soap making.