WWF report estimates that palm oil supplies 35% of the world¡¯s vegetable oil on just 10% of the land. In Cameroon, oil palm exploitation is taking a global scale. Since economic crisis of the year 1990s, Cocoa and coffee have already lost ground while the rubber tree is floundering. The palm oil is reassuring, because of its many uses.
Why is oil palm expansion a problem in Cameroon?
Oil palm expansion in Cameroon has been driven by rising global demand for vegetable oils for consumption and cosmetics. While making a significant contribution to national economies, the expansion of oil palm plantations is a cause for environmental concerns.
Where does oil palm grow in Cameroon?
Regarding oil palm, it develops preferentially in the coastal area qualified as the ¡°elaeisfarming¡± belt of Cameroon ( Figure 1 ). Administratively, oil palm plantations and concessions are set up in the maritime facades of the southern, coastal and southwestern regions [ 10, 15, 16 ]. Figure 1.
What percentage of palm oil is produced by smallholders in Cameroon?
Indeed, the proportion of palm oil produced by smallholders has steadily increased in Cameroon from 10 to 26% today. In Indonesia and Malaysia, smallholders account for roughly 40% of the total area of planted oil palm and as much as 33% of the output, due to lower yields, on average.