My country, Nigeria is blessed with good lands, I mean arable ones and that makes us a great agricultural nation. Unlike other nations which struggle with farming, the land in my country favors all forms of crops. From food crops to industrial crops. One of which is the focus of this writing.
Palm tree is one of the cash crops being cultivated in Nigeria. It is a plantation which the entire nation leaves on due to numerous products products that can be seen on it.
From the stem of this farm produce to its leaf, seeds are very important materials could be found which is or are used on a daily basis.
The stem of the tree, apart from the stand it gives to the product, the stem is use to make planks. This can be used for seat, roofing by some people. Some part of the country believe the planks of this product is stronger than other.
When the tree is cut down, the water coming out of it is a strong drink. It is called 'ẹmu' palm wine. It is a favorite drink among the Yorubas and igbó, tribes in my country. They use the drink for celebration and on many occasion.
This money tree, as it could be referred to due to the number of things that could be seen on it which will eventually become money, has seeds known to be kernels. When it is ripe for harvesting, it will become red in color. The farmer at this time pluck it and it will undergo a processing where oil is taken out.
Most cooking in this part of the world is done with palm oil which is an extraction from palm kernel. It is a product that cannot be compared with other cooking oils.
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From the palm kernel, there are other products that be extracted like palm kernel oil and the rest.
To some people leaf is nothing but a means in which photosynthesis takes place in plant. In the case of palm leaf, it is beyond this because the leaf of palm tree can be use to make hut. Hut is a house to some people and a place of rest in the farm. From the same leaf broom, basket, and some relaxing chairs are made.
What else can we say. This is truly a money tree and one of the blessed crops God gave to my country.