Processing and Conservation of Oil Bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla) in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study ascertained practices of processors in processing and conservation of oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla) in Enugu State, Nigeria. Seventy two respondents purposively selected from three agricultural zones, three blocks and nine circles constituted the sample for the study. Data collected during field work through structured interview schedule were presented in percentage, chart and mean score. Findings of the study reveal that middle aged and married people with relatively large house hold size and long years of experience in processing were involved in processing of oil bean in the area. They got oil bean they processed from people’s farm land and sourced information on/about processing the oil bean from friends and relatives. Boiling, de-hulling, washing, sieving, slicing, wrapping were activities the respondents undertook in processing of oil bean. However, there were variations in sequence or order of these activities among them. Little or nothing was done by the processors towards the conservation of the crop while poor storage and processing facilities and lack of knowledge on modern preservation techniques were major constraints to processing of oil bean in the area. It was therefore recommended that government and non-governmental organisations should assist the processors by providing processing and storage facilities for oil bean while research institute should conserve and generate improved species of the crop to arouse interest of the farmers and processors on the crop. These actions will help to boost output, yield and retain the crop in the universe.