Artisanal mills and local production of palm oil by smallholders

Publication date: 19/03/2018
Extent: 28 pages

Contributions by: Sylvain Rafflegeau, CIRAD, UPR Systèmes de Pérennes, France; Doris Nanda, Université de Yaoundé I, Cameroon; and Claude Genot, INRA-UR BIA, France

Chapter synopsis: In Africa, there are two oil palm supply chains. The first goes through industrial mills, from industrial plantations and surrounding smallholdings to a formal market of commercial oils complying with international quality standards, while the second goes through small-scale mills or traditional extraction, from smallholdings and ‘wild groves’ to an informal market of artisanal red palm oil. In this chapter, we concentrate on the second supply chain. We review the emergence of artisanal extraction of red palm oil in Africa, consider who is involved in this supply chain and why, and discuss the major operations and equipment involved in artisanal processing. We then review the composition and quality of artisanal palm oil and its various uses. Finally, we consider the sustainable development issues associated with artisanal red palm oil production.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2017.0018.36