ABSTRACT

This Study focuses on oil palm processing and marketing with respect to the problems and prospect that arc involved in the oil palm industry in Nigeria. This research work is a scholarly attempt at critically evaluating and examining the processing and marketing of oil palm at the small scale level (small holder oil palm processors). Oil palm is an agricultural produce and it has been estimated that between 60 and 70 percent of agricultural produce comes from the rurals, thus, it is imperative to have a good agricultural marketing strategy to assist in equitable distribution of the produce. The concern which motivated the researcher's interest on the topic "palm oil processing and marketing: problems and prospect" was based on the fact that palm oil in the past was a major foreign exchange earner for Nigeria. But in recent times production has fallen to the extent that it cannot even satisfy domestic demand. In a bid to realize the purpose of the study, 60 palm oil processors from the 13 villages that make up Ukwa East local government area were studies using questionnaires, their response Were also analyzed the following descriptive statistical tools namely frequency distribution (able, figures and percentages. Based on the data collected and analyzed, results reveal that the marketing of palm oil ought to be a veritable and viable economic activity but for the processing problems like shortage of FFB, shortage of labor etc which limit or reduce the quantity of palm oil produced and this have a negative effect on the marketing aspect of palm oil. Sequel to the findings, the following recommendations and others was made. Oil palm processors in the study area should form co-operative societies, government should make sure that inputs and finance reach the legitimate processors when they need them and at an affordable prices too. Government should build good roads to lessen distributions and transportation expenses and finally, processors in rural areas should be informed and educated about any new development in the oil palm industry.