Transfer of the Asian model of oil palm development: from Indonesia to Cameroon

Agricultural expansion to the detriment of natural forest is a well-known cause and consequence of economic development. Boom crops are exported cash crops developing very quickly in a region, in answer to a high demand on the international market. They may be brought by huge projects generally involving partnerships between governments and agribusiness companies. The livelihoods impacts on local peoples raise concerns among outsiders, who point at the risks of unfairness, manipulation and abuses of the population; examples abound in the oil palm sector in Indonesia, and in rubber development in Southeast China and Laos. Another major concern is the direct consequence of rapid conversion of large areas into plantations, which can have a direct impact on local people's access to land, and can induce the displacement of food crop production, and cause direct or indirect deforestation. Oil palm development in Southeast Asia is the most recent and noteworthy boom crop. Based on literature review, qualitative information gathered during a sharing and learning workshop and speech analysis, and the authors' experience of oil palm development in Indonesia, the paper questions the impacts that a transfer of the Asian model of oil palm development to Cameroon might have. (Résumé d'auteur

Opportunities to responsible land-based investments in Central Africa

Large-scale land-based investments in Central Africa are not new, however, the years 2000s have seen a renewed interest in agriculture by foreign investors. This new rush for farm land involved multi-national holdings new in the region and sometimes in the sector. With a focus on five countries of the region hosting the majority of the Congo Basin natural forests: Cameroon, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Republic of Congo (Congo), Central African Republic (CAR), this paper looks at this recent wave of investments in farm lands, and discusses their specificities, the ways the host countries deal with investors, and the impacts on livelihoods and on forest cover that these large-scale projects might have. The analysis draws on scientific literature and media reports review, an assessment of large scale land acquisitions for agricultural expansion, logging, conservation, or mining projects, and field surveys conducted in 2012 and 2013 in Cameroon, Gabon and Republic of Congo where key stakeholders have been interviewed (representatives of the various ministries involved in large-scale land deals, managers from the private sector presently investing in land-based projects, NGOs, land and tenure experts, villagers nearby on-going land-based projects). (Résumé d'auteur

The global problematic of diversification for rice/treecrops smallholders in Southeast Asia : an example with rubber diversification and its impacts on family farmers' income in Mimot district (Kompong Cham province, Kingdom of Cambodia)

Ecological vs economical sustainability of agricultural development is discussed in the first part of the paper to present the global problematic of rice/tree-crop for smallholders in Southeast Asia. An example is provided through a case study carried out in 2004 in Kompong Cham province (Cambodia), for the Family Rubber Project. The aim of this prospective analysis is to evaluate the impact of diversification with rubber cropping for smallholders and farms' ability to face risk when rubber provides a regular income improving the families' cash flow. The project offers technical support, a particular smallholders' expectations, and a planting credit allowing small and medium-scale farmers to avoid incurring debt towards local landlords at excessive rates. However; the selection criteria of candidates depends on their ability to reimburse the project, excluding de facto the poorest farmers. Thus the question of the compatibility of developing the rubber sector and helping the poorest farmers remains. (Résumé d'auteur

Oil palm in Cameroon: risks and opportunities

Oil palm is a native of the central African region, and has been cultivated in Cameroon since times immemorial to produce cooking oil, palm wine, and soap. In 2011, about 100 000 ha of oil palm were grown by small and medium holders and 70 000 ha were owned and exploited by agro-industries. This area is not productive enough to cover the domestic needs for oil, and the country imports about 50 000 tons of crude palm oil per year (CPO/year). As a consequence the government wants to develop the sector, and explore several possibilities, including foreign investment in oil palm plantations. A major concern of the civil society is the direct consequence of rapid expansion of oil palm plantations, which can impact on local people's access to land, induce the displacement of (other) food crop production, and directly or indirectly cause deforestation (indirectly where other crops are displaced and forests converted to new agricultural land). The paper questions the risks and opportunities of further oil palm development in Cameroon. (Réumé d'auteur

Desarrollo de la palma de aceite: riesgos y oportunidades con base en las lecciones aprendidas de Camerún e Indonesia

La expansión agrícola, a expensas del bosque natural, es causa y consecuencia bien reconocida del desarrollo económico. Los cultivos en auge se exportan, convirtiéndose en cultivos comerciales que se desarrollan muy rápidamente en una región, en respuesta a la elevada demanda en el mercado internacional. Podrían surgir en razón de proyectos enormes que implican asociaciones entre gobiernos y compañías agroindustriales. Los impactos en el sustento de vida de la población local suscitan preocupación entre los de fuera, que señalan los riesgos de injusticia, manipulación y abusos de la población. Abundan ejemplos en el sector de la palma de aceite en Indonesia y en el desarrollo del caucho en el Sudeste de China y Laos. Otra gran preocupación es la consecuencia directa de la conversión rápida de grandes áreas en plantaciones, las cuales pueden tener un impacto directo en el acceso a la tierra por parte de la población local y pueden inducir al desplazamiento de la producción de cultivos alimentarios, al igual que causar deforestación directa e indirecta. El desarrollo de la palma de aceite en el Sudeste Asiático es el cultivo en auge más reciente y notable. Con base en una revisión de la literatura, información cualitativa recopilada durante un taller de intercambio y aprendizaje y el análisis de ponencias, al igual que la experiencia de los autores en el desarrollo de la palma de aceite en Indonesia y Camerún, este estudio aborda las oportunidades y los riesgos de varios modelos para el desarrollo de la palma de aceite. (Résumé d'auteur

Entre forêts, agroforêts et plantations : Analyse des dynamiques paysagères à Bungo, province de Jambi, Indonésie

Dans le contexte de la transition agraire actuellement en cours en Indonésie, les paysages se transforment rapidement, généralement aux dépens de la forêt. En 2010, le district de Bungo présente une mosaïque paysagère, qui combine des vestiges de forêts à des agroforêts à hévéa et à durian, et à des plantations monospécifiques de palmier à huile et d'hévéa. Les agroforêts sont de plus en plus converties en plantations par les agriculteurs, dans l'espoir d'améliorer leurs revenus. Cette évolution repose sur l'implication de différentes catégories d'acteurs - population, gouvernements, secteur industriel - qui partagent un intérêt commun dans le développement économique du district. Cette thèse analyse en détails les dynamiques de conversion des agroforêts à hévéa en plantations monospécifiques de palmier à huile et d'hévéa. Une approche multiscalaire et transdisciplinaire a été suivie pour articuler les différentes échelles spatiales et sociales, du champ cultivé à la famille étendue, du village au district, et au contexte international. Les communautés locales souhaitent intensifier leurs pratiques agricoles, et participent volontairement et activement au développement des plantations monospécifiques, en particulier du palmier à huile. La conservation des forêts et des agroforêts dans l'intérêt général n'est pas une de leurs préoccupations, mais bien celle de la communauté internationale, représentée par des organisations non gouvernementales et des conventions internationales sur la préservation de l'environnement. (Résumé d'auteur