Tongatapu, Tonga

Learning the DME drying technique in Tonga

The first DME unit installed in Tonga was with Commonwealth Secretariat funding. It is on Sima and Lorraine's farm. Sima buys coconuts from surrounding farmers as well as using his own nuts. He employs five workers — women and men — to produce his DME coconut oil. Initially, output expanded slowly to meet the domestic demand for high quality fragranced body and massage oil, locally called Lolo Tonga.

During the first year of operation oil was produced on 140 days and produced 4,500 litres for an average of 32 litres per day. To start with, one batch was pressed every 15 minutes (4 batches per hour). By the end of the year the average was under 10 minutes (more than 6 batches an hour) and daily production peaked at 50 litres per day. Each batch produces an average of 1 litre and uses approximately 10 nuts.