The Nigerian oil-palm sector revisited

Since about the mid-fifties Nigeria’s oil palm sector has been experiencing a decline. Government has done much to assist the growth of the industry but has, by its fiscal attitude, negated its own efforts and fostered the decline. An economic analysis focusses once again attention on these negative politics: 1. Review of the key economic problems with which the Oil Palm Sector is faced – 2. Historical sketch of research efforts aimed at raising production efficiency at the primary level – 3. Appraisal of certain reported estimates of the economic return from hybrid palm investments in order to highlight in particular the difficulties attendant on their estimation and use as an investment criterion within a planning framework. Ref., notes, table, figures, summary.