Hello Hive.
There is such commercial value we can find in some crops and while
Some states in my country are known for growing annual crops like corn, millets and the rest of them Which are important for human consumption, some perennial crops can offer much more value compared to an annual crop in terms of both household and commercial use.
For instance there is no single part of a palm fruits that will not generate some income for us.
Coming from Benue state where we have an abundant supply of different kind of perennial crops, Banana is found in almost every farm and compound people live in.
Palm tress are in abundant supply since we have multipurpose use for every part of a palm tree harvested.
Palm tress are not easily destroyed by insect/pest hence for our building construction, palm trees are cut into sizes for direct use as the plank for our roofings.
In some homes the palm leaves are used as the roof as well in place of a zinc material.
But it is unfortunate now that people have left the natural use of this palm fruit in preference for buying expensive woods and roofing zinc for fancy purpose.
Palm nut are harvested first for making palm oil after which the palm kernel withing is now processed for making palm kernel oil.
Both oil are highly beneficial for our health.
Using palm oil to cook takes a top priority in my house while the palm kernel oil has remained as our number one body and hair cream.
Well my late ma has used it to regulate a child temperature at several occasion knowing that it has medical purpose.
Coming to the other aspects we have also used the leaves to make brooms baskets and other household items.
But the best part so far for my Benue people is the palm wine.
Palm wine is our first beer in any occasion and so much honour is giving to this alcoholic drink.
Freshly harvested ones taste Sugary, while others are allowed to stay for hours to get fermented.
While working on the farm here in Kwara state, I noticed how this particular palm tress was thriving well and wondered why the people of this state do not grow palm fruits.
But this one has grown to maturity all by itself with little to no care and has produced so much on the tree without anyone to harvest its fruits hence birds are helping themselves out which has directly dropped some of these down for me to pick.
Why will people not invest in a multi use palm tree like this and in a location where it can thrive very well with no care?
Most people are concerned about annual crops and what they will eat today forgetting that a little palm plantation can provide both food and cash needed to sustain them for a long time.
There are so many thing to be processed and sold from a palm tree but growing this has gone into extinction in my state.
Recently learnt a thing from my friend @tergan that while we are busy planting what to eat today while not plain crops with higher value that can sustain us for years?
I believe that palm tress can be one of such products.
He is more concerned about moringa but I am yet to look into its commercial purpose here and if we have buyers for it in the country.
Palm fruits and it product has a good market here but while trying to seek for plant to invest in you have to check out if there is a market for it in the country.
Alot of people are busy planting rice, corn and the rest of them not knowing that we are leaving to extinction some of these important crops here.
Honestly I am planning to write a post tomorrow about differing viewpoints on agriculture. I was going to compare planting rice vs planting palm trees. Honestly I do like palm trees, coconut trees, mango trees and pretty much any type of plant that I plant once and harvest for a long time.
The main reason I love Moringa is that its roots actually act as fertilizer for everything around it. You get food for yourself or your animals and it is beneficial for all the other crops you may want to grow.
I also like it because you can harvest whenever you want as the leaves stay fresh until you pick them and the plant always makes more leaves :)
Am highly expectant of your post, there is a lot more I can learn from it.
I can see that the spirit is one 😀
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Palm fruit contribution to human life is not to be considered by numbers. I use it for soup, stew, and almost all food need to be prepared with oil.
Myself as well.
I actually prefer palm oil to all others.
Hi @monica-ene.
What a pleasure to read such an informative post. Here where I live this tree does not exist (south of Chile) but it does exist in the north of my country.
It seems to me so unfriendly to nature to use so much "unnatural" material in the construction of things/houses.... Your reflection reminds me of the saying "bread for today and hunger for tomorrow". We depend so much on fast crops and that generate money in the immediacy, that we forget the multipurpose benefits that can bring us a slower crop like this one...
The palm as a medicine to reduce fever. I never heard that and how valuable to mention it here and give light to other people who are close to this precious tree.
A pleasure to read you and learn, thank you very much for sharing.
A hug 🙌