This is one of the indigenous practices in Kendar where most of the people are extracting oil from niger(Alasi), neem, Karanja etc. People in different villages come to extract oil from this type of machine. More than 4/5 village from nearby area to the village the machine is situated. This is placed in the common place of the village. People bring log of sal wood from the deep forest and make the machine. ‘Now-a day, it is too difficult to find wood for making the machine due to the decline of forest.’ is the answer from the people. It is a low cost machine. Around Rs. 2000 is required for making the machine.

Preparation for oiling (photo: Bijaya)

First the seed is dried well and then powdered. Water is sprinkled with the powdered seed. It takes more than 10 min for making for boiling. They boil the powdered seed in the above pot made in mud. In the lower pot, they keep water and the steam produced from the lower pot will boil the powered seed in the above pot. After 30-45 min it will be opened from the pot. The boiled seed is bounded in the small pieces of nylon or any strong clothes where oil can be extracted easily.

Process of oiling:

People are engaged for extracting oil (photo: Bijaya)

After boiling the seed through the evaporation process, the seed is taken near to the indigenous machine. There seed is bound tightly through the small pieces of nylon or any strong clothes. Then at least three such types of tightly bind seed should be placed between the two pieces of log wood. It is pressed by binding with the rope and with the help of iron stick. They collect oil in the lower part of the machine. They keep one cupper ring in the oil extracting pot as there is believe that they will get more amount of oil by doing so. They generally extract more than 250 ml of oil from one kg of the seed of Niger. It also depends on different seed. They have to give more than five rupees for oiling from 1kg of the seed.

Utility:

This oil is tasty than any other oil and good keeping quality. The oil is good for the health as it contains unsaturated fatty acids which are over 70% of its composition and absence of toxins. They get more taste by milling themselves by indigenous practiced machine than by milling through machine. This oil is also used for preparing the cake and using for festival lightning. They store this oil for their own consumption. The market value of the oil varies from Rs. 70 to Rs. 80 rupees and the value of Niger varies from Rs. 20 to Rs. 45 rupees according to the availability of the production of crops. The waste from the oil extracted will be used as the compost in the field.

Limitation:

1. More labour is required for extracting the oil. At least three people are required.

2. Less amount of oil will be extracted from the seed.

3. More time is required for extraction of oil.

4. It is necessary to wash properly the wood as there is probability of the mixing oil with mud and other waste material.