Moringa oil demand is increasing globally because of the large volume needed by Pharmacautical, Nutritional and Cosmetic Industries. Another name for moringa oil is Ben oil, it is one of the most costliest edible oil because of it properties. You can never see a bottle of moringa oil sold less, it is from #1,000 and above for small quantity like 30ml. This is just to let you know that moringa oil production is very lucrative.
You can produce the oil at home by yourself it is very easy. The Moringa oil produced from cold press is the best which is through the use of eclectrity or manual press machines. Moringa oil is prepared from moringa seeds that are crushed and milled.
The money and space needed for the production of moringa oil in large quantities is huge. This sometime discourages small scale entrepreneurs who are interested in investing into moringa oil production business. But there are mini press machines now for small scale commercial production and homemade use. The good thing about these machines is that they can process many other oil bearing seeds. Such as sesame, sunflower, soybeans, groundnut etc.
Small scale moringa oil production requires
- Small investments but has huge returns
- Less land and space
- Saves labour because little input is needed
- Wide usuage
HOW TO PRODUCE MORINGA OIL
To start processing moringa oil there are certain things to put into considerations.
- Building
It can be a rented or personal property but should be sizable enough to accommodate the machines and materials to be used
WHERE TO SOURCE FOR MATERIALS
Having your own moringa farm is the best but were you have to buy from others then source from reliable sellers/farmers. We have so many dealers/suppliers of moringa either offline or online they go into the interior villages to buy moringa seeds for sale. Commercial moringa farming are done largely in the villages that is where you can buy the seeds in bulk.
You have to ask the farmer or supplier whether the moringa seed will yield plenty oil. Because it is not every moringa seed that produces high volume of oil. Always request for sample first if you are buying from a far place. Most especially if you are buying in bulk except you have established trust after buying from a known farmer a number of times.
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Give your supplier specifications, if not you will be served with moringa seeds that has many debris and are probably defected. Purchase seeds of the Same year because oil content in moringa seeds starts diminishing after 2 years.
Again as a farmer make sure seeds are matured before harvesting them. Sort out healthy ones and throw away moldy, bad or spoilt seeds.
DRYING OF MORINGA SEEDS
After harvesting the seeds you can dry them with the shell or after dehulling. The dehulling should be done up to 50% before removing the chaff to have the seeds. The moisture content should not be more than 10%. If the seeds are not well dried they will not produce oil. And will stick to the machine, getting them out will become difficult.
Seeds that are not well dried will not yield plenty oil. You must not also dry them too much otherwise seeds that are too dried will not bring out oil. To be on the safe side dry the shelled (decorticated) seeds for about 5 hours of intensive sunlight. And the unshelled (undecorticated) seeds for 10 hours.
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Dehulling can be done with the use of machine or mortar and pestle. But you can still process moringa seeds with the shell.
Here are important things to note:
The longer the seeds stay after harvest the less oil it produces. You can buy moringa in bags and store them against off peak season. Scarcity of moringa starts from September while moringa season starts from January..
EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS FOR MORINGA OIL PRODUCTION
- Press machine
- Shelling machine
- Bottle/other packing materials
- Table
STEPS FOR COLD PRESS MORINGA OIL PRODUCTION
MORINGA SEED SHELLING
This is for those who intends removing the shell before extracting oil. Break the seeds with machine or with mortar and pestle. You can manually break them too just like palm kernel nuts. Once you bring out the nuts from the shell do not waste time to crush them because the longer the delay the lower the quality of oil produced. The oil will become darken and health quality will reduce.
PRESSING
Power the Moringa extraction machine if it is that if electricity, make sure it is working. Leave it for a while before you turn the moringa seeds into the funnel. Oil will start coming out almost immediately within 1 or 2 minutes. The first build up of the oil will take few minutes before it starts pouring out.
For manual press make sure you don’t stop turning the handle because the processed cake will become hardened and the machine will stop turning. Grease the washer with oil before you start pressing to avoid wear and tear. 1 kg of seeds will produce 120ml of oil
I once used the small manual grinding machine, the type that is used in grinding melon in the market to grind moringa seeds. After grinding the first time I wasn’t satisfied and wanted to make it finer than it was the slurry got stock to the machine and condemned it for me.
SEDIMENTATION
Sedimentation is the next thing after crushing the seeds and extracting the oil. This is the process of allowing the water molecules inside the oil to vacate if not the oil will become rancid. Leave the oil for a few days to settle and clear before packaging.
READ ALSO:How To Start Black Palm Kernel Oil Production In Nigeria
This is very important because it will give room for the seed particles to settle so that it will not be cloudy on the face. Although the cloudy nature does not affect the oil properties but removing them will give the final product neat appearance.
PACKAGING OF MORINGA OIL
Decant and package the oil, it should be clear and odourless. You can use any container that attracts your fancy either 30cl, 50cl etc. Some people use bottle while others use plastic. Cork or seal the mouth of the containers very well so that the will not pour.
MORINGA OIL EXTRACTION MACHINE PRICES
There are different kinds of machine and their prices depend on the capacity, mode and size. You can buy mini machine that is for small scale moringa oil production for #100,000 or less.
HOW TO PRODUCE HOMEMADE MORINGA OIL
Homemade moringa oil production is also known as solvent extraction. This process is okay for personal use but cumbersome for commercial moringa oil production.
STEPS FOR HOMEMADE MORINGA OIL PRODUCTION
- Place the seed in a pan or pot and place on fire to fry
- keep stirring them from time to time until they become brown.
- Pour the seeds into blender or manual grinding machine and crush.
- Turn the crushed seeds inside hot water pot and boil. When oil starts gathering on the top boil you boil for additional 30 minutes before bringing it down.
- Skim the oil out and allow it to Cool down before turning it into container.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF MORINGA OIL
- It contains antioxidant.
- Moringa oil possees Vitamin A and C.
- It is good for diabetic patients and persons suffering from strokes
- Heals wound fast
BENEFITS OF MORINGA OIL TO THE SKIN
- Moringa oil penetrate deeply into the skin and provide vital nutrients to it.
- It helps the skin and hair retain moisture
- Moringa rejuvenate the skin by caring for it.
- It makes the hair strong and healthy
- Reduces wrinkles on the skin and remove blemishes also.
OTHER USES OF MORINGA OIL
- The cake gotten after extraction is used as fertiliser in farming.
- Removes salt from water and also purify well water.
- The oil is majorly used in health and beauty industries.
- Moringa oil is used in perfume and fragrance making
SIDE EFFECT OF MORINGA OIL
It gives some people nausea. heartburn and diarrhoea after consumption. Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are not advised to consume moringa oil.
Moringa oil doesn’t have good taste.
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Please, I will like you to write something meaningful on MORINGA POWDER & SEEDS MARKETING. Thanks.
@Sulaiman thanks. Its noted and will be done.