INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AS INGREDIENTS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A CASE OF SHEA BUTTER INDUSTRY

The issue of technological advancement and poverty alleviation in developing countries is still gingering to experience a major take-off. This study attempts to show that a blend of scientific research and indigenous technology can improve upon industrial productivity. The study assessed the methods for the extraction of shea butter by understanding their principles and determined the best method in terms of yield (volume of oil/kilogram of nut). The yield of Traditional, mechanical press, and solvent extraction methods were determined by extracting 1000g of the nuts. The experiment revealed that the standardized traditional extraction method produce 493.9ml/kg. The mechanical gave a significantly lower yield, 366.7ml/kg and the chemical extraction method (with n-hexane as the solvent) gave a much higher yield, 560ml/kg indicating that extraction can only be improved by chemical means and not mechanical. The mechanical press method was tested on roasted and unroasted nuts and the average yield in each case are 366.7ml/kg, and 251.3ml respectively. The study concluded that the yield of shea butter extraction methods cannot be optimized without taking into consideration the chemical principles involved. Thus the industry can be made viable to generate more income for the nation when research outcome are utilized to standardize and optimize its productivity.