KAWA MULTIMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Oil Palm growing in Nigeria.
Oil palm is a crop grown on both large and small scale plantations. It is an Equatorial crop found in coastal plain regions of the Gulf of Guinea countries for example Nigeria, Ivory coast, Ghana among others. The oil palm is an indigenous crop found in the southern part of Nigeria. In some places it is planted while in others it grows as a wild crop.
The palm tree may attain a height of 15 metres. However cultivated varieties are bred to attain half this height for the purpose of easy harvesting.
The fruit consists of large bunch of egg-shapes red/black fruits which when ripe become bright orange in colour .Each bunch could have up to a thousand individual fruits.
The individual fruit consists of thick, pulpy pericarp surrounding a hard kernel. The trees are planted in estates at a distance of 9 metres apart. They take three years to mature. High yielding trees give as much as 90 kg of fruit annually.
The palm tree may attain a height of 15 metres. However cultivated varieties are bred to attain half this height for the purpose of easy harvesting.
The fruit consists of large bunch of egg-shapes red/black fruits which when ripe become bright orange in colour .Each bunch could have up to a thousand individual fruits.
The individual fruit consists of thick, pulpy pericarp surrounding a hard kernel. The trees are planted in estates at a distance of 9 metres apart. They take three years to mature. High yielding trees give as much as 90 kg of fruit annually.
Activity
REVISION QUESTIONS AND POSSIBLE ANSWERS
Palm oil production(thousand tones) for selected countries in Africa (for the year 1975).
Note: Total Palm Oil Production 890 (thousand tones).
(a) Using the pie chart provided above calculate.
(i) The number of tones of Palm Oil produced by Nigeria.
(ii) The percentage of Nigeria.
(iii) Name two African countries which produce Palm Oil but not shown on the chart.
b. Draw a simple outline map of Nigeria and on it mark and name
(i) Rivers Niger and Benin.
(ii) Enugu and Port Harcourt
(iii) Shade and name the major Palm oil producing areas in Nigeria.
c. (i) What conditions favour Palm Oil production in Nigeria?
(ii) How is Palm Oil processed by Nigerians?
(iii) List four uses of Palm Oil.
(iii) Explain the three problems involved in the production of Palm oil in Nigeria.
POSSIBLE ANSWERS
a (i) In 1975 Nigeria produced 469,700 tones of Palm Oil.
(ii) Nigeria produced 52.7% of Africa’s total palm oil i.e
190 x 100 = 52.7%
360
(iv) The other African countries producing Palm oil are Gabon, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Benin and Togo.
Sketch map of Nigeria showing palm oil growing areas, rivers and ports
c. (i) CONDITIONS THAT FAVOUR PALM
OIL GROWING IN NIGERIA
By far the most important conditions suitable for commercial production of Palm Oil are physical and can be outlined as follows:-
A tropical type of climate with:-
• Uniformly high temperature of about 25oC on average.
• Heavy and constant rainfall of over 1500 mm (75) and high humidity of about 85%.
• A fair relief of flat land elevation at 700 m.
• Well drained yet deep and fertile soils.
• Labour should be readily available for planting, weeding, harvesting and transport.
• Shelter from strong winds and sunshine.
Palm oil production(thousand tones) for selected countries in Africa (for the year 1975).
Note: Total Palm Oil Production 890 (thousand tones).
(a) Using the pie chart provided above calculate.
(i) The number of tones of Palm Oil produced by Nigeria.
(ii) The percentage of Nigeria.
(iii) Name two African countries which produce Palm Oil but not shown on the chart.
b. Draw a simple outline map of Nigeria and on it mark and name
(i) Rivers Niger and Benin.
(ii) Enugu and Port Harcourt
(iii) Shade and name the major Palm oil producing areas in Nigeria.
c. (i) What conditions favour Palm Oil production in Nigeria?
(ii) How is Palm Oil processed by Nigerians?
(iii) List four uses of Palm Oil.
(iii) Explain the three problems involved in the production of Palm oil in Nigeria.
POSSIBLE ANSWERS
a (i) In 1975 Nigeria produced 469,700 tones of Palm Oil.
(ii) Nigeria produced 52.7% of Africa’s total palm oil i.e
190 x 100 = 52.7%
360
(iv) The other African countries producing Palm oil are Gabon, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Benin and Togo.
Sketch map of Nigeria showing palm oil growing areas, rivers and ports
c. (i) CONDITIONS THAT FAVOUR PALM
OIL GROWING IN NIGERIA
By far the most important conditions suitable for commercial production of Palm Oil are physical and can be outlined as follows:-
A tropical type of climate with:-
• Uniformly high temperature of about 25oC on average.
• Heavy and constant rainfall of over 1500 mm (75) and high humidity of about 85%.
• A fair relief of flat land elevation at 700 m.
• Well drained yet deep and fertile soils.
• Labour should be readily available for planting, weeding, harvesting and transport.
• Shelter from strong winds and sunshine.