241 



fifths of die total quantity of palm oil is consumed by the 

 natives themselves, and barely one-fifth is exported. 



The export of palm oil from Kamerun remains steadily 

 at about 3,000 tons, whereas in consequence of periodically 

 occurring- periods of drought the export from Togo fluctuates 

 between 400 and 4,000 tons. It cannot be stated whether 

 the market price affects the quantity exported. 



An increase in export may be attained by the following 

 measures : 



1. An extension of the districts capable of exporting by 

 improvements in the means of communication (construction of 

 railways). 



2. A more intensive utilization of the existing palms through 

 better methods of cultivation. 



3. A better utilization of the crops obtained through 

 improved methods of preparation. 



4. An increase in the existing number of palms by increased 

 activity of the present producers or by the introduction of 

 fresh producers (European plantation cultivation). 



The methods of preparing palm oil by machinery that have 

 been elaborated within the last decade are of special interest, 

 among which the process employed at the Agu plantation in 

 Togo supplies the best palm oil obtained at the present time, 

 containing only 5 to 6 per cent, of fatty acid. These methods 

 make it possible for the cultivation of the oil palm to be taken 

 up in the form of European plantations. 



[DISCUSSION.] 



Mr. J. H. J. FARQUHAR (Conservator of Forests, Nigeria): 

 Mr. Chairman For nearly ten years I have been in Nigeria, 

 where the whole wealth of the country is derived from agri- 

 cultural and forest products. The natives in the Southern 

 Provinces of Nigeria have their farms on which they grow 

 food, but for their wealth they rely on the oil palm. Their 

 methods, however, are very crude; and one of the things which, 

 in my opinion, will assist in increasing the export of palm oil 

 is the importation and use of cheap de-pulping machinery. It 

 would also be a great advantage to have mechanical presses for 

 removing the oil from the pulp, because in the hand method 

 used at present the native cannot apply sufficient pressure to 

 extract anything like all the oil. In a great many cases the 

 nuts are not cracked, and consequently the kernels are not 

 available for export. It is clear from all this that one of the 

 chief things necessary to extend the trade is simple machinery, 

 and in that respect we need the help of engineers. Most of 

 the hand machinery now available is too expensive for the 

 16 



