Production of palm oil in Cameroon is distributed across three plantation types or scales: ? Agro-industrial plantations (58,860 ha producing 120,000 tons); ? Supervised smallholder plantations (35,000 ha producing 30,000 tons), and ? Independent smallholdings (occupying an estimated 100,000 ha producing approximately 80,000 tons of palm oil4).
Are non-industrial producers driving oil palm production in Cameroon?
Non-industrial producers are driving oil palm production in Cameroon. We analyze the drivers of oil palm production in Cameroon. Access to information and land tenure systems play a crucial role in farmer decision-making. Market orientation also matters in oil palm production.
What drives oil palm expansion in Cameroon?
Third, oil palm expansion in Cameroon is predominantly driven by non-industrial producers and coordinated around a burgeoning informal milling sector ( Ordway et al., 2019 ). Cameroon can thus be looked upon as a major region of growth when it comes to oil palm production and expansion in Africa.
Where do oil palms grow in Cameroon?
It is estimated that in Southwest Cameroon, a top producing palm oil region of Africa, 67% of oil palm expansion from 2000-2015 occurred at the expense of forest (Ordway et al., 2019). Many regions in Cameroon have the required growing conditions for oil palm. South-West, South, and Littoral are the most attractive regions for investors.