The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has unveiled plans to promote development of oilseed crops for both consumption and industrial purposes in the country.

Nigeria is blessed with tropical climate, which supports the production of diverse species and varieties of oilseed crops, including almonds, avocado, hazelnut, canola, castor, dika nut, melon, oil bean, sesame, cotton, linseed, flaxseed, coconut, peanut, soybean, oil palm, olive and walnut seeds, among others.

The high demand for oilseed crops in industries owes much to their phytochemical and other functional properties. As a result of this development, the use of vegetable oil and fats has expanded considerably as a result of advancement in processing technology and the application of innovation in their utilisation.

The Director General of RMRDC, Prof Ibrahim Hussaini, at a recent media engagement, observed that markets for oilseeds and its by-products are changing rapidly in Nigeria, noting that their use in food consumption, industries and livestock feeds are enjoying robust growth rates.

Hussaini, however, regretted that despite the various investment opportunities in the production and processing of oilseeds in Nigeria, the optimal development of the sector is being plagued by several challenges, but mentioned that the challenges are being addressed through local and international collaborations between RMRDC, mandated research institutes and other stakeholders.

He said through the various interventions by government and collaborations, Nigeria’s oil palm production sector is expanding, as new estates with early and high yielding oilseeds are being established.

In June 2019, government invested $500m with the aim of increasing palm oil production by 700 per cent over the next eight years (2019 – 2027), boost yearly local production to 5.0 million metric tonnes from the 1.0 million metric tonnes produced in 2018/2019.  This move encouraged increased utilisation of major oilseeds in the country.

When refined, palm oil is used in the food industry as margarine, sugar confectionary, frying fat and special fat. It is also used in emulsion-based, powdered and convenience food products. Palm oil and palm kernel oil have also been used to replace butterfat in ice cream and in milk preparation. Infant formulas, as well as salad oils are now being made with palm oil as it has a low melting point.

The RMRDC DG mentioned that the council has been a major promoter of oleochemicals production from palm oil as the number of small scale oleochemicals producing companies is on the increase locally.

In addition, he said palm oil utilisation for production of rubber, glycerine, candles and cosmetics are on the increase owing to research and development, and investment promotion activities of the council in collaboration with private sector investors.
Soybean production

Reports have it that Nigeria’s soybean production in 2021/22 was estimated at about 1.25 million metric tonnes, up 43 per cent or 375,000 metric tonnes of the 2020/2021 production level. This was above the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2020/21 estimate of 875,000 metric tonnes.

In view of its multifarious applications, the council has collaborated with mandated research institutes to boost soybean production and productivity in various parts of the country.

Despite increased production, however, national consumption has continued to rise.  For instance, the soybean consumption in 2021/22 was estimated at 1.275 million metric tonnes, up 38 per cent compared to the year 2020/21 estimate.

According to reports, consumption is growing in response to increasing demand in several industries.

To alleviate soybean shortage, the Central Bank, through its Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), facilitated the smallholder outgrowers’ projects.

This enabled farmers to plant and sells the produce after harvest. This was to reduce importation as the import in 2021/22 was estimated at 100,000 metric tonnes, up nearly 100 per cent greater than the 2020/21 estimate of 50,000 metric tonnes.

Locally, soybean is increasingly being used in affordable production of cake with favourable texture characteristics. Due to its high oleic acid content, it is used in cookies madding icing, pies, bread making, deep frying, packaged foods and in fried snacks.

Among the non-food applications are the production of caulks and mastics, which are useful as adhesives or sealants.

It was learnt that the RMRDC has developed small scale oil processing equipment for soy oil production. The equipment, which is in the Technology and Innovation Centre of RMRDC, is promoting soy oil production locally and available to investors who are interested in soybean processing.

Further research, according to reports, is being undertaken into utilisation of soybean oil as a significant substitute for the petroleum-based resin needed to make parts for automobiles and other types of equipment in the country.
Peanut

In addition, peanut production in 2021/22 was estimated at 4.8 million metric tonnes. This is up by nearly nine per cent or 400,000 metric tonnes from the USDA official 2020/21 estimate of 4.4 million metric tonnes. Groundnuts are ranked fifth among oilseed crops in the world after palm oil, soybean, rapeseed and sunflower.

Nigeria is the largest peanut producer in Africa, accounting for 30 per cent of Africa’s total production, and third in the world after China and India.  However, around 30 per cent of the crop produced locally are said to exceed the permissible aflatoxin levels for most countries. Although, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has developed aflasafe, which is a bio control solution to reduce aflatoxin in soybeans and peanuts, the adoption rate is still low among smallholder farmers.
Shea nut

The shea tree is the second most important oil crop in Africa after the palm nut tree.  However, the value chain development of the shea nut locally is constrained by high gestation period of the tree and the use of traditional processing methods, which limits the quality and quantity of the butter produced despite the high market potential of shea butter, a vegetable fat extracted from shea nuts.

Aside from the aforementioned oilseeds, Nigeria is also becoming a major player in the production and processing of a host of other oilseed plant species such as castor seeds, sesame, cotton, rubbers seed oil and sunflower seeds among others.

Hussaini disclosed that in West Africa, the council championed the introduction of castor seeds in the country and in collaboration with mandated research institutes and private sector operatives produced improved seedlings and varietal development of some of these oilseeds.

He said: “Through its international collaboration efforts, the Council has introduced and domesticated improved safflower seeds, which produce oil that can be used for injections production. Some of these oilseeds are now being produced and processed locally by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for production of various types of oil that are used in various industries.”

He further explained that the oil from sunflower seeds is used in cooking, manufacturing of soaps, detergents, varnish and as lightening oil. In Nigeria, a number of SME’s are producing sunflower oil, which is being used for cooking and as raw material in the production of margarine, butter, bread, and snacks.
Sunflower oil

Sunflower oil is locally used as a composite ingredient in bread and butter production. Aside from production of edible oil, sunflower has been used as raw materials in the production of cosmetics, paints, lubricants, biodiesel, and drugs.

He mentioned that the council over the years has promoted and boosted the production of sunflower oil in Nigeria, which has increased the utilisation of the oil in the country.

The don said: “An example of such is the collaboration with research institutes and private sector organisations to promote the development of improved oilseeds varieties for distribution to the various Oilseeds Producers, Processors and Marketers Associations in Nigeria and to members of Oilseeds Association of Nigeria (OSAN).”

He said in a number of cases the Council had to import improved varieties of some oilseeds in line with the provisions of the National Seeds Council of Nigeria to boost local production in relevant ecological zones in the country, saying through this practice, some new species of oilseeds have been introduced to expand and complement existing oilseed production and processing in Nigeria.

“Some of the collaboration efforts have led to the development of high yielding varieties of castor seeds, oil palm, sesame, groundnut, etc. and are promoting food security and national economic and industrial development aspirations of the country.

“Today in Nigeria, a number of small scale oilseeds processing plants are operating in various parts of the country and this is reducing dependence on importation.”

He further stated that the council’s efforts to address the challenges of shea nut value chain development are yielding commendable results as they have developed small scale processing facilities for the production of premium quality shea butter.

Likewise, the Council in collaboration with National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology  (NAGRAB), been able to improve on the shea tree germplasm for better productivity, while the collaboration with Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) is leading to the establishment of low gestation shea tree plantations in the country.