Packaging Redesign for Locally Produced Palm Oil in Imo State to Improve Export Marketability

Palm oil production is a cornerstone of the agricultural economy in Imo State, South East Nigeria, with thousands of smallholder producers and cooperatives supplying local, national, and emerging export markets. However, the marketability of Imo State palm oil in premium and export markets is severely constrained by poor packaging design, inconsistent labelling, and non-compliance with food safety presentation standards. This project investigates the redesign of packaging for three local palm oil cooperatives in Orlu, Okigwe, and Owerri West local government areas. Baseline assessments of existing packaging documented inadequate sealing mechanisms, absence of grade certification markings, inconsistent volume measurement, and absence of brand differentiation. User and market research involved interviews with twenty-two cooperative managers, thirty retail buyers, and eight export brokers to identify packaging requirements across market segments. New packaging prototypes developed include food-grade HDPE jerry cans in one-litre, five-litre, and twenty-five-litre variants, printed labels meeting NAFDAC requirements, and tamper-evident seals. Retail shelf tests conducted in Port Harcourt and Onitsha supermarkets assessed shelf visibility and consumer pick-up rates. Results show a fifty-eight percent increase in consumer product selection for redesigned variants relative to incumbent packaging. The project recommends that the Imo State Oil Palm Development Authority provide packaging design support as part of its cooperative development programme. Keywords: packaging design, palm oil, export market, Imo State, agricultural branding.