With the availability of imported oil, the culture of extracting cooking oil from pangtse seed is disappearing in Ganglingkhar-Wangphu chiwog of Martshala Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar. It was once widely practised by the villagers of the chiwog for self-consumption. Today, some of the villagers are trying to revive the practice but they find the traditional method time-consuming and laborious. They are now requesting for an oil extraction machine.
Villagers harvest pangtse seed from the wild between June and July. Pangtse tree seed is widely used for oil extraction.
After drying, the seed is crushed into powder by using a traditional mortar and crusher.
The powder is then steamed in the heat of boiling water.
Villagers say they no longer extract oil for self-consumption as their ancestors did. Now they do it on a small scale for medicinal purposes to treat wounds and diseases in cattle.
“Compared to the olden days, the practice declined drastically. In the past, our grandparents used to collect the seed and extract oil for consumption. I remember they also exchanged the oil for rice and maize. Now, with development, we don’t extract oil for consumption,” said Jigme Norbu, a resident of Ganglingkhar-Wangphu chiwog.
“Before, our parents practised it widely. They extracted oil for consumption, they also used to sell it in other villages. The tree grows in the wild and the seed is collected from there,” said Mendu Tshomo, another resident of the village.
After steaming for about 30 minutes, the seed powder is collected in a small bamboo basket.
And the bamboo basket with seed powder is placed under a wooden plank. It is then pressed by the weight of people standing or sitting on the plank. Sometimes, even stones are used to squeeze oil from the bamboo basket.
The villagers say getting an oil extracting machine will save their time and encourage them to produce more oil which can cut the dependency on imported oil. They are able to squeeze only 2 litres of oil in a day while doing it the traditional way.
“If the government can provide us with a machine, we will be able to produce more as the villagers are interested. With the traditional method, we are not able to produce more since everything has to be done manually,” added Jigme Norbu.
“In the past, people, both young and old stayed in the village and were able to produce oil but now younger ones leave the villages after studies. Therefore, it is difficult to work. If a machine is provided, we will be able to produce ourselves and will not have to buy oil,” said Mendu Tshomo.
“We have to work manually including crushing the seed and pressing with stone. Now, with development, it will be helpful if a machine is provided,” added Tashi Lhamo, another resident of the village.
Martshala Gewog Administration and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests in Samdrup Jongkhar do not have any plans to provide oil extraction machine to the villagers as of now. However, the Martshala Gewog Administration says the office will look for possibilities to set up an oil extraction machine in the future. Until then, the villagers will have to continue to extract pangtse oil the traditional way.
Kinley Wangchuk
Edited by Phub Gyem
