Efficient technologies (Adjustable Harvester, SSPE, Malaysian Knife)

Efficient technologies seek to increase and enhance the efficiency and profitability of Palm Oil Farmers in the Niger Delta region. In line with improving technology, improving access to resources and facilitating system change in the palm oil sector, PIND facilitated the introduction and promotion of the Adjustable Palm Fruit Harvester, the Small-Scale Processing Equipment (SSPE), and the Malaysian Knife.

Adjustable Harvester

Harvesting palm fruit can be time-consuming, expensive and labour-intensive as the traditional varieties of palm oil trees are very tall and grow harvestable fruits from the 7th year unlike the much shorter, improved ‘tenera’ varieties that grow harvestable fruit from the third to fourth year thereby reducing the use of climbers because harvesting can take place from the ground for many years before the trees eventually grow too tall.

Climbers are becoming more expensive as a result a large amount of fruit is lost to farmers as it rots on the trees. The Adjustable Palm Fruit Harvester is a welcome technology that enables farmers to harvest fruit from very tall trees themselves thereby eliminating the need for climbers.

The adjustable harvester has the engine at its base. Its standard length is 8 feet but can be adjusted up to 15 feet. The tip of the harvester has a sharp blade that is used to cut the palm fronds first, then it cuts the base of the fruit bunches. The equipment has the capacity to harvest 16,000 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches per day thereby improving harvest yield and providing additional good quality fruit for processing. Read more here

Small-Scale Processing Equipment (SSPE)

The Small-Scale Processing Equipment (SSPE) enables farmers and processors to produce palm oil quantities that are of significant commercial value by improving the process of oil extraction from palm fruits with an increase in extraction rate of up to 15%. With this technology, palm oil farmers and processors can better maximise their produce and increase their income. The 15% extraction rate is a significant improvement on the basic processing equipment which has an extraction rate of 11%. by up to 13,500 Naira for each person directly involved in the industry.

Malaysian Knife

About 60% of smallholder plantations in the Niger Delta region are above seven meters tall. Considering how expensive, time consuming and dangerous it is to harvest palm fruit using the traditional method of harvesting, there is the constant need for tools that can improve the ease and efficiency of harvesting palm fruit in the region. The Malaysian Knife is one of the efficient tools for easy harvesting of palm fruits. This harvesting knife can be used on trees nine meters and above and it is much cheaper than the Mechanical Adjustable Harvester.

PIND has entered into a partnership with Willstin Ventures, a lead distributor of the Malaysian knife, to promote adoption its in the Niger Delta. Additionally, the distributor for the mechanical adjustable harvester Texmaco has shown interest in also selling the Malaysian Knife. He has made an order of the knives to sell, and will soon begin conducting demonstrations. As it is cheaper than the Mechanical Adjustable Harvester, it has seen enthusiastic acceptance. So far, 20 Malaysian Knives were sold have been sold in the first quarter of its promotion.