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A fabricated large-scale hydraulic oil expeller, priced at RM1200-RM3500
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24th December, 2007
KOTA KINABALU: Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) is the newest buzzword in Matunggong, a sub-district 35km south of Kudat in Sabah.
It is pure coconut oil—different from the oil extracted from copra—and researchers believe it may be the healthiest dietary oil on earth.
Clinical studies have shown that lauric acid, present in VCO, has anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, making it something of a miracle healing oil. Some nutritionists say it counters diabetes, cholesterol, hepatitis, heart problems, prostrate and urinary problems, thyroid problems, and skin disorders.
As such, demand for the VCO has soared tremendously: at present it sells at USD 3897 per metric ton, five times the price of copra, which sells around USD582 per metric ton. Locally VCO can fetch RM75 per litre.
This has spiralled into a new economic wave among the coconut growers in Sabah.
Kudat district has 9583.9 hectares of coconut plantations—and Matunggong seems poised to become the hub of VCO production.
The establishment of a VCO processing centre there has ushered in a range of changes, thanks to a three-year pilot project initiated by the International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT) with the cooperation of Sabah Agriculture Department.
COGENT is a ten-member non-governmental organisation aimed at eradicating poverty among the hard-core poor by initiating economic projects funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
A total of 102 hard-core poor families in Matunggong are participating in this VCO project, the COGENT project leader for Malaysia, Nilus Kalitu, said.
COGENT has set up a machine, the Fabricated Large Scale Hydraulic Jack Oil Expeller, which can extract one litre of VCO from the grated flesh of 10-15 coconuts (depending on their variety—Sabah Tall, MAWA, Kelapa Pandan or MATAG).
Nilus Kalitu and coordinator Madam Au Wai Fong, both senior researchers from the Sabah Agriculture Department, have helped the villagers to undergo the VCO processing training from consultants from COGENT.
The extraction involves a simple process: first, 10-15 matured coconuts are grated using the grater machine. The grated coconut is then sun-dried for three hours, after which it is ready for oil extraction.
The dried coconut is fed into the oil expeller machine, and then cold-pressed to extract oil that flows down into a container. It is then filtered to obtain clean oil.
“This is virgin coconut oil—pure, raw and crystal clear, without any chemicals added, and with a sweet aroma. There is no heat treatment—the grated coconut is dried naturally in sunlight. This differs from refined coconut oil (hydrogenated coconut oil), obtained by boiling the copra… this oil is yellow in colour and has a thick odour,” Nilus said.
VCO can be obtained through another process: the traditional fermentation method, involving the natural separation of the coconut oil from water using gravity.
First, coconut milk is expressed from freshly harvested coconuts. The coconut milk is then allowed to sit for approximately half a day. The water separates from the oil and sinks to the bottom, while the lighter coconut solids float to the top. In between the coconut solids and the water is a crystal clear layer of completely unrefined coconut oil.
The oil is warmed for a short time to remove any remaining moisture, and then filtered. The result is a clear coconut oil that retains the distinct scent and taste of coconuts.
A baseline survey done by the Sabah Agriculture Department to assess the success of the three year COGENT programme indicated that the introduction of the VCO had improved the livelihood of many villagers.
Emaliah Maruidui (41) a mother of three from Kg Inukiran said her monthly income has gone up from RM 350 to RM700 with VCO processing. She gets the nuts from her 11 acre coconut plantation.
“If the weather is good, I can process about 20 litres per month,” she said. “Now I can afford a hand phone.”
Duliana Katib (37) from Kg Sinusukan, who gets her coconuts from her in-laws’ farms, said her income has doubled from RM500 to RM1000 per month. She soon intends to plant the pandan variety in her 6-acre property to get her own supply.
Both Emaliah and Duliana intend to do VCO production full-time and want to take the trade at global level.
According to the chairman of the Matunggong Coconut Growers Association Mariom Mangiagang (44), the biggest challenge is marketing.
“We have only one wholesaler from Kota Kinabalu now. He buys all our produce. We need regular repeat orders from several wholesalers,” he said.
The farmers also sell their VCO in retail outlets such as pasar tani, exhibition booths, and curious visitors who come to visit their VCO processing centre. They are currently renting premises owned by FAMA but soon will be moving to a new VCO processing centre with laboratory-like facilities at Kg Guomon.
Research Officer Au Wai Fong said small farms and lack of capital hinder their progress in VCO production although it is a very lucrative business. To add to this, most farmers are illiterate and can’t adapt easily to modern technology.
She said under the 9th Malaysia Plan, the government plans to open new projects involving 165 small holders and to provide subsidies for replanting coconuts in Kudat, Matunggong,Pitas, Kota Marudu and Semporna.
Does coconut oil of plant origin contain high cholesterol? Dr Mary G. Enig, Ph.D, a US biochemist and nutritional expert (www.coconutdiet. com and www.westonaprice. org) claims that this is a misconception based on research done on hydrogenated coconut oil 40 years ago, not virgin coconut oil.
Hydrogenated coconut oil is extracted by boiling the copra in high heat using fire, a process that compromises its quality. VCO, on the other hand, is extracted from grated coconut that is dried naturally under hot sun. The oil is extracted using cold press method and is pure, very clear and of high quality.
According to her paper, recent research shows a long list of benefits of virgin coconut oil. Most of the saturated fats in virgin coconut oil are made up of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA) or Medium Chain Triglycerides (LCTS), which have unique properties that are very beneficial for both food and non-food uses.
With modern equipments and large scale production vis-à-vis better marketing management, it is hoped that VCO can find good export markets that will open new horizons for coconut growers in Sabah.
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