…SDI dialogue conference unveilsAs the oil palm industry becomes attractive to West Africa because of its humid climate, and fertile soil, inhabitants of communities wherein the investment goes on remain in tears as their land is grabbed randomly thus leaving them with limited accessibility to their own land. Instead, they are startled by the movement of bulldozers clearing their land, and this has resulted to conflicts between investors and the communities. Dr. Chris Kidd, an expert from the United Kingdom (UK), who shared his view on the oil palm industry in West Africa, noted: “There is a huge demand for investment in oil palm in West Africa, because the region has a large area of land, which attracts that. Chairman of the Multi-Stakeholders Platform for Bomi County, Abraham B. Combay, said unlike the past when communities were not involved with the operations of investors in the oil palm industry, the coming of the RSPO has brought some improvements by enhancing the involvements of communities. The group observed also that despite the reforms, land acquisition by oil palm companies is often characterized by lack of respect for the rights of local communities.

Source: Daily Observer December 02, 2019 02:26 UTC