Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis L.) seed, oil and meal

The rubber tree is a perennial plantation crop, although in many parts of Africa the tree exists in a semi-wild state, the original rubber plantations having fallen into a state of neglect. The tree grows in hot, humid climates, maturing in about 5 years and can be tapped for rubber latex for up to 20 years. About four seeds are borne in a dehiscent fruit which, on drying, disperses the seeds by an explosive mechanism. The Nigerian Rubber Research Institute estimates that seed yield from rubber plantations varies from 100 to 150 kg/ha, depending on soil fertility and crop density. Most humid tropical countries grow or are capable of growing the rubber tree to some extent. Estimates of rubber seed production from 200 000 ha of rubber plantations in Nigeria are about 20 000 tonnes per annum. Yields of kernel from rubber seeds range from 57% to 63%, with a mean of 60.5% and current estimates (Nwokolo and Akpapunam, 1986) are that Nigeria’s rubber estates are capable of yielding 12 000 tonnes of full-fat rubber seed meal annually. This in turn, can yield about 5500 tonnes of rubber seed oil and about 6000 tonnes of defatted protein meal for animal and human nutrition. Most countries of West and Central Africa have considerable land areas under rubber tree plantations. In West Africa, Liberia has an even more extensive hectarage under rubber than Nigeria. Countries of South East Asia and Latin America, which currently produce most of the natural rubber of the world, have tremendous potential to produce rubber seed oil and rubber seed protein for human and animal use.