Prospects of Oil Palm Wine and Raphia Palm Wine in South East, Nigeria

Nwankwo Temple Nneamaka

doi:10.7176/jnsr/9-4-04

Abstract

The study which compared the potentials of oil palm wine (OPW) and raphia palm wine (RPW) in South East, Nigeria was informed by the vast nutritional and economic values of the products, their potentials for poverty alleviation and dearth of information on the economics of marketing of the products in the area. The study specifically described the different ways in which oil palm wine and raphia palm wine can be utilized and also identified the differences and similarities in the utilization of both wines. The study population comprised all the oil palm wine and raphia palm wine consumers in South East, Nigeria. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 150 respondents for the study. Primary data used for the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Palm wine has best potentials for use in refreshment, followed by ceremonies, traditional medicine, as raw materials, libation, lactation, and least weaning. Innovations such as use of hybrid plants, accurate plant spacing, new and efficient ways of tapping by associated Research Institutes in the country will help boost production. Keywords: Oil palm wine, Prospects, Raphia palm wine DOI : 10.7176/JNSR/9-4-04

Highlights

Human beings cannot survive without water for a long period of time, as normal functioning of the body requires a continual supply of fluid in various forms including beverages (Olufunke & Oluremi, 2015)
The sap used to obtain palm wine is mostly taken from oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) and raphia palm tree (Raphia hookeri and Raphia vinifera)
Palm wine tapping is a difficult task involving climbing or axe felling coupled with the difficult swampy terrain, men are solely engaged in wine tapping while mainly women and children undertake processing and marketing activities (Ikegwu, 2014)

Summary

Introduction

Human beings cannot survive without water for a long period of time, as normal functioning of the body requires a continual supply of fluid in various forms including beverages (Olufunke & Oluremi, 2015). Beverages are food items that are consumed in liquid state, but have lower food values relative to milk, and milk products. Palm wine is the collective name for a group of alcoholic beverages produced by the natural fermentation of the sap obtained from various tropical plants of the palmae family (Falegan & Akoja, 2014). They further reported that indigenous people living in or close to swampy areas (such as the Ibos, Yoruba, Urhobos, Ijaws, and Itsekiris of Nigeria) prefer to tap their palm wine from raphia palm, while the Ibos prefer tapping their wine majorly from oil palm trees. Palm wine is enjoyed at birth celebrations, funeral ceremonies, and plays an integral role during traditional marriage ceremonies (Mbuagbaw & Noorduyn, 2012)

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