Introduction
1.1 Background Of The Study
The oil palm originated in tropical West Africa where it is found growing in any areas the centres of production of oil palms stretches from Senegal, through Dahondy and Nigeria to Congo and Angola. Nigeria is one of the worlds loading producer of palm oil and palm kernels palm produce was the main commodity which attracted the early European traders to west African those traders save the oil rivers to the Nigeria delta area where they traded the use of oil palm and it products are many the leaves are used for making brooms and for roofing materials the back and the front is paled and weaving into baskets, the main trunk can be split and used as supporting frames in buildings a sap tapped from the female flower is drunk as palm wine a rich source of year red palm oil can be extra from the fibrous layers of the nuts of the fruit bunch this is locally used in the manufacture of candles, margarine, and soap a clear oil from the kernels is used for making pomades palm kernel meats is used as a menial food the empty fruit bunch, the shell and fortress which remain after oil extraction are used as fondle many plantation of oil palm have been establish in west African, but most palm produced is obtained from palms growing wild.
1.2 Statement Of Problem
Edo state is one of the major oil producing area in Nigeria recently some other ones have sprang up and Edo state is noted as the largest producers of palm oil and kernels in Nigeria yet there is storage of palm oil and kernels in Nigeria not to talk of export the yield of palm kernels for export which used to add to the nations revenue as falling. It is therefore they concerned of these study to identify the reasons of problems responsible for the falling level of oil palm producing in the area of study and also to render useful subjections.
1.3 Objectives Of The Study
The objectives of the study are
- To identify and examine the problems of oil palm production in Edo state.
- To find out solutions to some of those problem.
- To make recommendation for improve or better oil palm production in Edo state.
1.4 Scope Of The Study
This study is focused on the oil palm production problems and prospects in Edo state specifically Nigeria institute for oil palm research in Benin city for the purpose of the research, oil palm production will be among small scale farms will be used as a case study in the light of the above information gathering will be limited to communities in NIFOR.
1.5 The Significance Of Study
The importance of oil production to the society cannot be over emphasized therefore this research work is designed to find out the problem facing the improvement of oil palm production, problem and prospect in NIFOR (Edo state).
- It is hoped that the results of the research will be of use in the improvement of oil palm production.
- Besides, the study will help agricultural policy planners in the under standing of the problems of oil palm production and how to solve them.
1.6 Hypothesis
The hypothesis of this study are formulated are
- Inadequate storage facilities result in low cultivation of oil palm in Nigeria
- Attack by pest and disease lead to decline in oil production.
- Inadequate land space affect the production of oil palm farmers who produce oil palm are called with the problems of advise from the extension workers
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