In the previous post I mentioned Manjama Institute of Agriculture (MIA) in Bo because it happened to be the location of our training. But apart from being a guest house and a conference venue that offers catering and accommodations, Manjama is also farmer field school, which trains over fifty students per annum. MIA has been in operation since 1985 and teaches much needed skills in agriculture, animal husbandry, carpentry in addition to providing micro-credit services to farmer groups.
The following is a photo essay, documenting the palm oil making
Stage One begins with the extraction of the oil from the palm fruit
Stage two entails filling the concrete tub with water and washing the pounded palm fruit. The seeds are pounded down in a pestle to extract yet more oil and the oil itself rises to the surface.
In the third stage the oil is poured into a large metal drum that sits over a fire. Cooking the palm oil is the final process.
The palm oil is now ready for retail!
February 29, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Mario,
I loved this photo-essay. Keep up the excellent work!
MB
March 1, 2008 at 7:02 am
I love the color of the pounded palm fruit and water. Before I read the captions I my initial thought was that they were making some sort of paint.
April 7, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Que increible Mario! Imaginate que hace una semana estuve en una discusión sobre Afro-Colombianos y resulta que unos inversionistas extranjeros estan “invadiendo” las tierras colectivas de los negros en el Chocó para cultivar o procesar este mismo aceite de palma. El gobierno, obviamente, no se ha pronunciado para nada… después me cuentas más sobre este proceso allá. Abrazos.