Description

Palm farming is an important agricultural activity in West Africa, as the region is the world’s leading producer of palm oil. There are two main types of oil palms that are cultivated in West Africa:

African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis): This is the most commonly cultivated type of oil palm in West Africa. It is native to the region and is well-suited to the tropical climate and soils. The African oil palm is a perennial plant that can grow up to 20 meters tall and produces oil-rich fruits that are harvested for palm oil.

American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera): This type of oil palm is also grown in West Africa, but it is less common than the African oil palm. It is native to South and Central America, but it has been introduced to West Africa for its high-quality oil. The American oil palm is smaller than the African oil palm and produces smaller fruits, but its oil has a higher unsaturated fatty acid content.

In addition to these two main types of oil palms, there are also several hybrid varieties that have been developed in West Africa. These hybrids are crosses between the African and American oil palms and are designed to combine the high yields of the African oil palm with the desirable oil quality of the American oil palm. Some of the most popular oil palm hybrids in West Africa include the Dura x Pisifera (DXP) and the tenera varieties.