Preface

Processes for the extraction of vegetable oil from oil fruits and oilseeds are known in many countries. The technologies for these processes are, in most cases, either still traditional or very modern. Traditional technologies usually have the advantage of requiring low investments, but are labour-intensive and time-consuming. Sophisticated large scale technologies, on the other side, are generally beyond the financial reach of the rural population in developing countries.

The present publication aims at closing an information gap on a third option: small scale or intermediate technologies for oil extraction. These technologies have been developed by various institutions and are presented in the hope that they might contribute to more appropriate solutions and generate additional income for families, self-help groups and co-operatives, particularly in rural Africa.

The German Appropriate Technology Exchange (GATE), as a department of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH, has gained project experience with women groups in West Africa using small scale equipment. The experience includes that, apart from technical aspects, the social- setting and the economic effects have to be considered before the introduction of new technologies. GTZ/GATE has therefore asked the AFRICA ASIEN. BUREAU, Cologne, and the KONINKLIJK INSTITUUT VOOR DE TROPEN, Amsterdam, to combine their expertise for this publication.

The authors sincerely hope that the language they have used is not too technical or complicated for those readers who are active in rural development, but have only a basic understanding of the agronomic, technical and financial implications of oil processing.

All those, who have contributed to the realization of this publication, are greatfully acknowledged, in particular Mr. R. D. Heubers and Mr. R. Merx, staffmembers agrotechnology of KIT and Mr. G. Espig of the University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim.