According to the World Bank, more than 80 percent of DRC¡¯s working population is employed in the agriculture sector. While some of the largest palm plantations in the country are owned by international companies, small-scale farmers are largely responsible for supplying the population with palm oil.
Is palm oil outpacing production in Congo?
Palm oil is a standard ingredient in Congolese kitchens, but it¡¯s also commonly used to make soap. Now, demand is outpacing production ¨C and some families are getting priced out of the nutritional staple. Louise Menga has been selling palm oil in Kisangani¡¯s central market for seven years.
Are the Congo Basin’s leaders paying attention to oil palm expansion?
There are some early signs that the Congo Basin¡¯s leaders are already paying attention to the potential environmental trade-offs of oil palm expansion ¨C like the Marrakesh Declaration, in which seven African governments pledge a shift towards sustainable, low-carbon palm oil production.
How much does palm oil cost in Congo?
Akambo is one of them. Palm-oil prices are rising in markets across Kisangani, the capital of DRC¡¯s northeastern Tshopo province and a major trading hub with a population of about 1 million. Akambo says she¡¯s left with few options to feed her family. ¡°I need to pay 800 Congolese francs (50 cents) for one bottle of palm oil,¡± she says.