Techniques and Technological Aspects of Palm Oil (<i>Elaeis guineensis</i>) Processing in Cameroon

Crude palm Oil (CPO) processing is very popular in African Countries. In Cameroon, various actors are involved ranging from agro-industrial complexes to traditional processing by smallholders who use very inefficient equipment and thus have low oil extraction rates. Small-scale processing by smallholders dates back to the early 1980s and has witnessed a lot of changes as a result of new actors in the sector, changing technologies and to an extent, government policies. This paper attempts a review of the origins and evolution of small-scale palm oil processing using intermediate technology, highlighting its importance to both the farmer and the national economy. An attempt is made to look into the future of this activity, with proposals for its consolidation.