Sunflower Oil Presses
Oil is a very necessary commodity in the food chain of the people. But the oil that they use is produced in Asia, shipped to Dar-es-Salaam, transported by truck into the interior of Tanzania, and then carried on bicycles into the valley. This oil is very expensive and at times hard to get.
Ted introduced improved varieties of sunflowers as a crop and assembled oil presses run by 24 hp diesel engines. The people plant and harvest their own sunflowers and bring them to be pressed, providing cooking oil for themselves and extra to sell to others. The first press was so successful that an additional building was erected, a second oil press put into service, and a filtration system to clarify the oil for instant home use.
Ted introduced improved varieties of sunflowers as a crop and assembled oil presses run by 24 hp diesel engines. The people plant and harvest their own sunflowers and bring them to be pressed, providing cooking oil for themselves and extra to sell to others. The first press was so successful that an additional building was erected, a second oil press put into service, and a filtration system to clarify the oil for instant home use.
Sunflower farming
Since the establishment of the first two presses, we have purchased another press from the proceeds of the first two. Up to 30 percent of local farmers are now farming sunflowers and realizing the benefit of growing their own cooking oil as opposed to importing it.
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