Table of Contents
Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………………… …...2
List of Abbreviations…………………………………………………………………………….…….3
Catchment Map……………………………………………………………………….……………….4
Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………………….…..…5
1. Introduction & Justification………………………………………………………………………..6
2. Objectives………………………………………………………………………………………..…6
3. Biophysical Milieu of the Catchment Area………………………………………………..……..6
4. Socio-economic Milieu of the Catchment Area ……………………………………………….10
4.1 Economic Activities ……………………………………………………………………..10
4.2 Financial Services ……………………………..………………………………………..11
4.3 Population, Education & Employment Trends ……………………………..………..11
4.4 Gender Relations ……………………………….………………………………………13
4.5 Cost Benefit Analysis for Oil Palm Production ………………………………..…….15
5. Current Situation of the Oil Palm Value Chain with Market Outlets ………………………..17
6. Spatial Map of the Catchment…………………………………………………………………..24
7. Challenges encountered by Oil Palm Producers within the catchment Area………………25
8. Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………..…25
9. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………26
10. Annexes………………………………………………………………………………………….26
 Picture Gallery.
List of Abbreviations:
1
Acronym
Full Meaning
AIVDP
Agricultural Infrastructure Value Chain Development Project
BS
Basin Supervisor
CAP
Chief Agriculture Post
CDC
Cameroon Development Corporation
CIG
Common Initiative Group
DDARD
Divisional Delegation of Agriculture and Rural Development
EDP
Economic Development Project
FFB
Fresh Fruit Bunch
FLS
Front Line Staff
IRAD
Institute for Research and Agronomical Development
Ha
Hectare
MINADER
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
MIS
Market Information Systems
NGO
Non-Governmental Organization
OHADA
Organization for the Harmonization of Business Laws in Africa
PCP -ACEFA
PO
Program for the Consolidation and Sustainability of Agro-pastoral Counselling
Producer Organization
PPT
Personal Protective Equipment
SDDA
Sub Divisional Delegate of Agriculture
SOWEDA
South West Development Authority
SWOT
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
TNA
Training Needs Assessment
VCD
Value Chain Development
Catchment Map:
2
Figure 1: Catchment Map.
Executive Summary:
3
The AIVDP commissioned consultancy on mobilization of producer organizations around the semi industrial
oil factory within the Bombe Catchment Area requires a report on the socio economic survey of the
catchment area as a major deliverable.
Findings from the survey reveal a picture of a crop that has multiple uses, huge economic and financial
potentials involving men, women and youths of various ages. In fact the products of the oil palm constitute
basic necessities in all households and several commercial organizations dealing with a variety of products.
The oil palm provides local communities (including those within the Bombe catchment area) with much
material, social and cultural uses ranging from food to traditional rites, pharmacopoeia through decoration
and construction materials, contributing to their well-being and their socio-cultural development. For the
traditional pharmacopoeia, red palm oil is an antidote to poisons; palm kernel oil is useful for skin care in
both new-borns and adults. Lastly, palm wine appears inescapable in all traditional ceremonies and rites
concerning enthronement, weddings, deaths and funerals.
Thousands of families earn their primary income from their related activities within the oil palm value chain.
Household incomes and livelihoods depend on the oil palm yet traditional practices are the order of day.
This in part is due to the low educational levels of oil palm producers who are slow to adopt modern
practices.
Artisanal processing methods used by oil palm producers within the catchment area exposes them to
hazardous conditions which ultimately affects their health in the long run. The actors are disorganized,
processes within the chain are not standardized, and there is lack of social security for smallholders
including several land disputes which sometimes end in litigation. The challenge is for oil palm producers to
get organized, standardize their operations, engage in modern enterprise management techniques as well
as pull their resources together in order to maximize the benefits from economies of scale and collective
bargaining.
This opportunity presented by the AIVDP for the mobilization of oil palm producers to get organized and
create a Cooperative that will take ownership and control of the management of the oil palm factory in
Bombe is timely and cannot be underestimated by oil palm producers.
1. Introduction & Justification:
4
The consultancy on mobilization of producer organizations around the semi industrial oil factory around the
Bombe Catchment Area was commissioned by the AIVDP to MUDEC Group (a local Capacity Builder).
Within the framework of this consultancy, a major deliverable is a report on the socio economic survey of
the Bombe Oil Palm catchment area. The main objective was to conduct prospection of the area to
determine the situational analysis of the functioning of oil palm value chain actors and processes in order to
inform the Client with baseline information that will enable the development of standardized procedures for
the subsector.
2. Objectives:
 Delimit the catchment area and produce a map of villages within the area.
 Conduct an analysis of input and output markets for products, their structure and dynamics
between actors.
 Collect and analyze information on the specific activities carried out by government and other
development partners in the oil palm sub-sector.
3. Biophysical Milieu of the Catchment Area:
Background:
The biophysical environment of the Bombe catchment area includes all villages from Konye to Ikiliwindi,
Kumba 3 and all villages from Kake 2 through Kumba to Mpundo Balong. The area has been greatly
tampered with and exploited either for settlement, natural resources use or for agricultural purposes. The
area cut across 5 court areas; Mbonge Court Area, the Kumba 1 Court Area, Kumba 3 Court Area, Konye
Court Area and Muyuka Court Area. Farmers in these areas have exploited the hitherto primary forests and
have turned them into secondary forests or have created farms in almost all accessible and nearby land in
all the villages. Timber exploitation companies have also exploited timber from the primary forests in the
past, leaving behind remnants of secondary forests. Also, large agro-industrial corporations like the Mukete
Plantations Limited are continuing to put down large areas of primary forest especially in the Mbonge Court
Area to plant rubber, oil palms and Settlement Camps to harbor their plantation laborers. Furthermore,
trees are cut down by individuals to construct houses, bridges and for household consumption. It is no
doubt that all of these activities have been causing a lot of environmental hazards to the soils，roads,
water sources, climate and the biodiversity of the biophysical environment which can simply be described
as degraded.
5
Climate:
The Bombe Catchment area has a typical equatorial climate with two major seasons which are the rainy
and the dry seasons. During the dry season the climate is hot and dry, meanwhile in the rainy season, the
climate is cold and humid. In the past the rainy season occurred from March to October and the dry
season from November to February. Temperatures vary from 18 to 27 centigrade throughout the year; the
relative humidity of the air varies between 52 to 74%. Annual rainfall varies from 3000mm to 4000mm, but
with climate change, the seasons have not respected their schedule in the recent years. The area has
been experiencing drastic changes as rains have come earlier and the dry season has also experienced
some unexpected rains. For instance, rainfall was experienced right up to December in 2010 instead of
October as was the case in the past. This has altered the planting and production seasons of cash and
food crops, as well as other economic activities.
Soils:
This area has a mixture of laterite, sandy, clay and volcanic soils which are very rich in humus, brought
about by the rapid decomposition of litter and debris, enhanced by the rainy and the dry season. The soils
here are generally very fertile and favor the growth of food and cash crops.
However, the soils are
gradually losing fertility due to increased slash and burn, soil exposure, pollution, over cropping and
leashing. Fast urbanization, deforestation, use of agri-chemical, soil erosion, solid wastes (plastics, wood,
iron, aluminum, batteries) and liquid substances such as chloridric acid from batteries, engine oil, from
motor repairer workshop constitute the main threat to healthy soil within the village areas and urban and
rural space. Moreover, the limited drainage and sewage network also contributes as a threat.
Relief:
The relief of the area is generally level while some areas are undulating with even small hills that can be
spotted here and there, though very few in numbers. It is slightly elevated passing from Mungo plain (less
than 40m) covering Mundame, Mombo Waterfall, Mombo Center, Mombo I, Mungo Camp, Pendamboko in
the East to a light elevated (40 m to 120m) area covering Laduma, Konpenda Camp, Malende, Mukonje,
Bakossi Camp, Mambanda Camp and Teke at the center and finally to averagely elevated (120 to 185m) in
west covering Barombi kang and surrounding quarters including Ntam. However, the topography in some
areas is hilly with steep and gentle slope like in the cases of Ediki, Mbalangi, Bombe and Banga which are
furthest and located at the top of the hills. The altitude of the Bombe Catchment area generally is low with
some areas below 100 m above sea level. The highest village is about 550m above sea level. This low
6
altitude gives way to very hot temperatures especially in the dry season and during the day. This hot
climate is also very favorable to crops which not only grow well but mature rapidly.
Hydrographic:
The main water courses in this area are rivers such as the Meme (the longest river in the South West
Region) which cuts across many of the villages interspersed with streams and springs. The water volume of
River Meme, Kumba Water, springs and streams increases significantly during the rainy seasons. Another
major water body in this area is the Lake Barombi which flows out and joins the main river in Kumba and
then further to the River Meme in another part. Water courses are used in many ways mainly for farming,
fishing, home use (laundry), water catchments and recreational activities like swimming and bathing. The
water courses can be harnessed and used for large scale irrigation, transportation, hydro-energy, potable
water and large-scale fishing. Other hydraulic system is made of boreholes and public taps, streams, rain
water, springs, wells and CAMWATER network. Small streams are abundant within the municipality flowing
from West to East. They all empty their water into the Mungo River. All these natural sources of water
contribute to supply water for drinking, cooking, washing cloths and building within the areas which are not
reached by CAMWATER Network. We equally have the Yoke River found in Yoke, the Mungo River that
flows across Mpondu village and “Lake Mboudong” in Musone village and other small streams in various
villages.
Flora and Vegetation:
The vegetation type has a mixture of primary and secondary forests, with the former located far from
settlement areas and the latter found closer to settlement. Villages such as Musone and Diongo still have
the most primary forests whilst others such as Ediki, Mbalangi, Bombe and Banga almost exhausting their
forests as cropping is done extensively. The vegetation cover comprises mostly of cocoa and coffee trees
in the secondary forests and others such as the Boma, Bubinga, Tally and Camwood found in the primary
forests. It is obvious that the flora of the areas has been greatly tampered with and depleted. The creation
of farms has caused much damage to the vegetation of the primary forest that used to exist. Only
inaccessible patches and fragments of forests, and the protected reserves (though there is evidence and
confirmation of encroachment for new farms) now exist with limited biodiversity. More stringent measures
should be put in place to save the last forest reserves, namely the River Meme Forest Reserve, Moungo
Forest Reserve and the Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve which are greatly threatened by deforestation
and encroachment. Identified tree species are: Chlorophora excelsa (Iroko), Pterocarpus soyauxii (padouk);
7
Terminalia superb Engl.& Diels (Frake); Entandrophragma cylindricum Sprague (Sapelli), Piptadeniastrum
africanum (Dabema), Distemonanthus benthamianus baill (Movingui), Baillonella toxisperma (Moabi),
Nauclea diderrichii (Bilinga) found in the forest reserve.
Identified abundant and various medicinal plants include: Cola nitida (cola), Cantharelus spp (Mushrooms);
Carica papaya (Pawpaw), Khaya anthoteca (mohagany).
Non timber species includes Cola nitida (cola), Irvingia Gabonensis (bush mango), Ricinodendron
Heudelotti (Njansang) found in the reserve and villages like Teke, Mundame, Essok, Laduma, Mukonje.
Fauna:
The types of animals found in this area include reptiles such as pangolin, snakes, alligators and others
such as the rat mole, primates (monkeys), porcupines, and antelopes. There are also domestic animals
which include pigs, goats and sheep. Like flora, the fauna of the area has been depleted and the animal
species found are obviously very low in terms of significant population. Hunting generally is no longer a
significant occupation to the inhabitants as there are few or no animals to hunt. Bush meat is rare to find in
restaurants in the area unlike in villages in other divisions where flora and fauna are relatively more in
terms of species and population. The rare green-breasted bush-shrike (Malaconotus gladiator), grey
necked picathartes (Picathartesoreas), and other various birds are found mostly within the reserve.
Oil palm can produce high yields when grown under the right biophysical conditions (Better Crops
International, 1999): High temperatures all year round, between 25-28° C; Sufficient sunshine: at least 5
hours of sun per day; High precipitation: evenly distributed rainfall 1,800 – 2,400 mm / year without dry
spells for more than 90 days. Higher rainfall can be tolerated as long as soils are well drained; Soils:
prefers rich, free draining soils, but can also adapt to poor soils with adequate use of fertilizer, and Low
altitude: ideally below 500m
Land use relative to Oil Palm:
Ecology of the oil palm shows that the forest area has the suitable conditions (soil, rainfall, temperature,
relief and insolation) for its development. It is in this vein that all old and new palm plantations (from all
8
actors being agro industries, small farmers and elites) are located in forest areas. This is because forest
milieu guarantees them a sustained production over a long period while others areas like fallows and
abandoned farms do not bring the expected results.
Figure 2: Land use within the Catchment area.
4. Socio-economic Milieu of the Catchment Area:
4.1 Economic Activities:
The economic landscape is characterized by agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing, hunting, forest
exploitation, commercial and industrial activities. Most residents within the Catchment area involved in the
cultivation of cash crops (cocoa, oil palm) and food crops (plantain, cocoyam, bananas, yams, maize,).
Agriculture is the major economic activity and source of livelihood for the majority of individuals, families
and households. Consequently, the Government of Cameroon (GoC) has put in place technical services
(though not effective) to assist farmers with modern production systems. This service includes the sub
divisional delegation of agriculture, - center for agricultural capacity building (CEAC) and agricultural post.
Income is primarily derived from the sales of agricultural products (cash and food crops) and expenditure
patterns relate to purchases of food, consumer goods, clothing, luxury goods, housing, education, health,
9
transportation and others, including Church, contributions and support to Village development and to
relatives.
4.2 Financial Services:
Major financial institutions such as Commercial Banks including National financial Credit, Union bank
Cameroon, Eco-Bank, Societe Camerounaise des Banques and BICEC are located in Kumba
(administrative head-quarter of Meme Division). These instituions offer complete banking services to the
general public. However oil palm producers who live in villages cannot access these institutions. Micro
Financial Institutions (MFI) are located in Kumba as well as in Konye and Muyuka (not currently
functioning). A few Village Barns located in Bombe and Banga are available to cater for the financing needs
of oil palm producers. The majority of oil palm producers depend on local Thrift and Loan Associations
(Njangi) which offer proximity services.
4.3 Population, Education and Employment Trends:
More than 100.000 persons including 51% women live within the Bombe Catchment area. The population is
very dynamic with high mobility movement within, out and into the Catchment area. Population mobility
within the municipality is inter-communities. People migrate from other communities to settle in
communities which are considered urban areas within the Catchment area because of the present of basic
amenities like schools, health care, water and electricity. Other forms of mobility is movement out of the
Catchment area (rural exodus). The reason for this flow of population is the search for better living
conditions. Furthermore, the sociopolitical crisis (since 2017) has caused many persons including
Traditional Authorities and Elites to flee from villages (internally displaced persons) leaving behind property
including homes and farm land. There is Socially Vulnerable Persons (SVPs) including; persons living with
disabilities (blind, deaf and dumb, aged persons, orphans); people living with HIV/AIDS and senior citizens
who have largely been abandoned to themselves. The average level of education of the population is
primary education. Several individuals did not complete primary education and cannot read and write but
can communicate in Pidgin English.
10
Figure 3: Educational Qualification of Average Oil Palm Producers.
There are many new jobs and employment created by oil palm for landless laborers and rural households
in Bombe, Banga, Malende, Yoke, Mpundo Balong, Mukonje and Kake. Despite, employment, jobs, rural
migrations, wage incomes, linked to the palm oil sector, it does not necessarily improve welfare in terms of
food security, and other non-income dimensions, land conflicts etc. This is because market price is
determined by the middlepersons also referred to as ‘’buy and sellams’’.
Jobs and revenues generated by the various activities related to the establishment, maintenance and
operation of a palm plantation (planting and plant maintenance, transport of FFB and oil extraction)
constitute the most visible face of its socio-economic impacts able to boost the local economy if the
sustainability conditions are fulfilled. Several aspects of this positive impact are to be noticed (1): the sale of
FFB by farmers and elites to agro-industries; (2) the establishment of modern mills; (3) Significant induced
impacts linked to a flowering of secondary processing industries in Cameroon (soap factories, cosmetics);
(4) The sale of artisanal or semi-mechanically extracted oil to soap factories, on local and regional markets
or at the roadside; (5) the development of income-generating activities and petty trade in these villages
thanks to the oil palm cultivation; and (6) the development of cooperatives based on existing CIGs will
constitute the final stage of this economic facet observed in the Bombe catchment area.
4.4 Gender Relations:
The roles of men, women and youths in the oil palm production process were identified and have been
captured below:
Harvesting of oil palm is done by men
Hacking / picking of the nuts from the cone is done by women
11
Gathering the nuts is done by youths
Processing & Transportation which are labor intensive and attract high risks are executed by
Youths
Women constitute the majority of Wholesalers and retailers within the oil palm value chain. They
also constitute the main customers for household uses of palm oil.
Figure 4: Actors in Oil Palm Production by Gender:
Figure 5: Average Oil Palm Producer Age by Gender.
12
Figure 6: Farm Ownership by Gender:
Farm size per Gender
Farm Ownership per gender

Average farm size for men is 3 Ha

Average age of farm owned by men…….17 years

Average farm size for women is 1 Ha

Average age of farm owned by women….. 5 years

Average farm size for youth is 2 Ha

Average age of farm owned by youths….. 5 years
4.5 Cost Benefit Analysis for Oil Palm Production:
This Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) is based on the Tenera fruit which is widely cultivated by oil palm
producers within the Catchment area.
 1 hectare of secondary forest acquired from the Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve cost 250.000
FCFA whereas 1 hectare of secondary forest acquired from Native Land cost 800.000 FCFA
depending on the village and the location of the land (distance from the village).
 Takes about 5 years for the initial harvest
 Peak harvest period is from January to June whereas the low peak harvest period is from July to
December each year.
 Harvesting is paid per cone between 35 FCFA and 125 FCFA based tree height. A tree can
produce about 3 cones at a time depending on the period.
 100 cones = 1 ton of palm oil
 1.000 liters of palm oil = 1 ton of palm oil
 1 Ha oil palm farm produces 150 liters of palm oil per month during peak periods (6 months) and
60 liters of palm oil per month during the off peak periods of 6 months.
13
 Annual production from 1 Ha oil palm farm is 1.260 liters.
 30 liters container of palm oil is sold at 20.000 FCFA.
 Annual Income from the sale of 1.260 liters is 840.000 FCFA
 Annual income ranges between 750.000 FCFA and 840.000 FCFA based on several factors
including planting materials used / farm management / topography / climatic conditions……
 Associated Costs per hectare of land: (initial investment / operational)
Initial Investme93.200nt
Cost of Initial Investment
Operating Expenses
Cost of Operating Expenses
Description
Quantity
Acquisition of 1 Ha of Land
Purchase of Chitted nuts
Land preparation / planting
Total
Clearing
Prunning
Harvesting (depending on the height
of trees)
Hacking
Picking loose nuts
Transportation
Processing
1
143
1
Unit Cost
Total Cost
(fcfa)
(fcfa)
500.000
500.000
25.000
143
143
-------------
150
75
25.000
525.000
35.000
21.450
10.750
-----------------
2.000
4.000
5.000
15.000
Total
93.200
 Estimated revenue:
No
Description
1
2
3
Sale of 1.260 liters of palm oil (in 30 liter containers)
Sale of Bi-products
Total income from 1 Hectare
Quantity
42
-----
Unit Price
Total Income
(fcfa)
(fcfa)
20.000
840.000
--------840.000
Therefore an oil palm producer cultivating 1 hectare of land can
 Will incur initial investment cost …………………………………..…..525.000 FCFA
 Will incur operating costs … ………………………………….………….93.200 FCFA
 Total expenses……………………………………………………………618.700 FCFA
 Will generate sales (income) worth ……………………………......…. 840.000 FCFA
 Potential profit …………………………………………………………….231.300 FCFA
14
From the analysis above it can be stated that investing in oil palm production is a profitable business
venture. The future is promising for oil palm producers who are highly encouraged to get organized and
take ownership and control of the value chain process.
15
5. Current Situation of the Oil Palm Value Chain within the Catchment Area:
16
INDIRECT ACTORS
DIRECT ACTORS
Oil Palm Value Chain Map within the Bombe Catchment Area:
Input Supply
and Services
Production
Input Suppliers
& Services:
Producers:
IRAD, Agrodealers
Financial
Services
Village Barns,
Banks, Njangi,
Money Lenders
-CDC, Mukete,
Local farmers,
Elite farmers
Extension
Service
CA, FLS, CAP,
SDDARD etc
Assemblers
Processors
Assemblers:
Traders,
Middlemen,
BuyamSellams
Consumers
Distributors
Processors:
Distributors:
Consumers:
Manual,
Motorized &
Hydraulic
Mills.
Wholesalers,
Retailers,
Exporters
Local, National,
Regional and
International
Markets
Research
NGO/CBOS
IRAD, LSF,
FLS, CA
ACEFA, AIVDP
International
partners:
Transporters
Policy Makers
Bikes, Taxi’s,
Buses, Pickups,
Trucks, Vehicles
GoC, Traders,
Producers,
Researchers.
Value Chain Analysis:
Input dealers
Production
Assembly
Sellam)
(Buyam Processing
Marketing
17
a) Input Dealers:
Agricultural inputs are defined as products permitted for use in farming. The products/resources
used in oil palm production include chemicals; equipment (tools and implements) and
seed/seedlings. Input suppliers provide ease to market their own products and must depend on
profit to remain in business. This leads to some serious problems: Capacity issues – Capacity
varies widely in input suppliers.
Seed multipliers:
In the oil palm sector we have those who produced quality chitted nuts of tenera variety like IRAD
and PAMOL. They now sell to seed multipliers like CCSP and other local seed producers like;
independent seedling producers, Cooperatives and CIGs. These above mentioned persons are
those producing seedlings for farmers to plant. The nurseries are always available and in good
shape.
Agro-dealers:
Agro- input” includes, but is not limited to, equipment, fungicides, insecticides, fertilizers, and other
soil or medium amendments. Prominent agro dealers are found in kumba main market like the
farmers store, farmers shop, and other individual agro dealers littered all over Kumba, Mbonge and
Muyuka. Despite the abundance of agro-input shops selling chemicals, little is known about the
safety of the shops, the knowledge of the agro-input dealers and the advice given to farmers.
Most often producers in this area limit their use of pesticides to herbicide as they can only buy and
spray grass/tree killers. The private retail sector, including agro-input dealers, is often the dominant
source of pesticides for farmers in the Bombe Catchment area. From observation, it shows that
smallholders also consider agro-input dealers a major source of information for pest management.
Pesticide manufacturers, on the other hand, do not have direct contact with agro-input dealers and
farmers, and thus use written formats such as product labels to inform their customers. Some agroinput dealers are not interested in providing proper advice, as this might reduce product sales.
Other agro-input dealers are not properly trained and base their advice on knowledge gained
through personal experience, brand ambassadors, and level of commission. On the other hand,
many farmers take the advice from agro-input dealers seriously and adopt the suggested practices
forgetting to seek advice from the competent agric-extension services in the field like MINADER
(Chief of Post, Agro Pastoral Counselors, and Sub-Delegates), AIVDP Frontline Staffs and Basin
Supervisors.
18
Pesticides are the most sold product of agro-input dealers and the most profitable. Specifically, the
most sold products are herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, when it comes to oil palm, while
the most profitable products are herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Besides pesticides, most
shops also sell fertilizers, seeds, and spray pumps. The most commonly sold PPE in shops are
gumboots, followed by masks without carbon filter, gloves, nose masks and glasses.
b) Production:
Figure 7: Categories of Oil Palm Producers within the Bambe Catchment Area.
High density production areas include Bombe Bakundu, Banga Bakundu, Bopo bakundu, Pete Bakundu,
Musone Bakundu, Malende, Yoke and Mpundo Balong villages. Few Corporate Institutions are operating in
the periphery of the Catchment area and they include; CDC, PAMOL Plc and SOCAPALM.
The producers are stratified in three groups: an agro-industrial sector (C.D.C), smallholders in
contract with agro-industries (Mukete Plantation Ltd) and traditional independent smallholders also
called artisanal sector. Smallholders with less than 5 ha of oil palm represent more than 75 % of oil
palm growers but provide only half of the production due to very low yields. Despite the presence
of these three groups, the national production is not sufficient to cover the domestic consumption.
The government considers the oil palm sector (both artisanal and industrial) as an important tool to
alleviate poverty and to generate national revenues. Oil palm smallholding value chain is made up
of three categories of farmers: family farms, rural and urban investors. The average margins of
farmers are higher for the plantation of urban investors, followed by those of the rural investor and
19
the family farms. Family farmers (small scale farmers) are the actors who process all their produce
into red palm oil, whereas, the rural investor and urban elites do not process their produce. They,
rather sell their nuts, either to local artisanal millers or to the local agro industry. Besides local
smallholders' plantations, oil palm production is promoted in Bombe catchment area by
investments from local or urban elites. Elites' plantations are usually larger (from 5 to several
hundred hectares), fertilized and with a more thoroughly conducted field operation. Palm oil
production in smallholders plantations can be as low as 2 tons fresh fruit bunches (FFB) /ha or <
1ton crude palm oil (CPO)/ ha, but it can sometimes approach the productivity of industrial
plantations (8-12 tons FFB /ha) in the most productive elites plantations.
An improvement of oil palm Fresh Fruit Bunches production by smallholders would have direct
economic benefits for the population of Cameroon, and would help develop employment in the
artisanal processing sector. However, support to small-scale palm oil production might not be
enough to balance the commercial deficit of the country in palm oil. Investments by private agroindustries are thus needed like that of AIVDP to the Bombe Catchment area. Action in this field
must be guided and monitored with much care by the government, to ensure that doors are opened
to responsible investors interested in long-term benefits of investments.
Figure 8: Types planting materials:
Planting materials commonly used by oil palm producers include;
Dura which has large seeds and low quantity oil yield
Pesifera which has high quantity oil yield but low quality (excellent for Industrial uses)
20
Tenera which is a high breed combination of both above and has high quality but
relative lower quantity yield. It is good for household consumption.
c) Assemblers / Distributors (Buyers):
Local buyers distribute crude palm oil to industries and consumers. Once the oil is produced in the
mill, buyers from Douala and Kumba are usually ready and on standby for collection and assembly
at strategic locations within each village for transportation and eventual distribution to markets. The
buyers actually determine market price, this is due to the fact that the producers are not in
agreement with one another. Before the buyers come to buy palm oil, they discuss amongst
themselves and find out which price is suitable for that season. The same cannot be said of oil
palm producers. Once oil palm is bought large quantities, they are being sold to retailers in Kumba
main market and Douala. Some buyers go to the extent of signing contracts with industries in
Douala. It has been noticed that those who keep their oil home before selling sell at their
convenient and the price is also determined by them depending on the current market price and
quantity in stock. This involves the harvesters, and transporters of both fresh fruit bunch (FFB) and
palm oil. In the Bombe catchment area, youths of the different communities are often involved in
harvesting and transportation of FFB. This alone serves as a constant source of employment as
harvesting is done within every two to three weeks. Many solicit for farms to work permanently as
share-cropper meanwhile other producers only accept temporal jobs.
A days job here for
harvesters is based on the number of trees harvested, a single tree might cost 50 to 100fcfa and
head loaders are paid per man-day which cost 3000fcfa. Most often it is difficult to find workers
neither (harvesters nor head loaders) especially during the peak season of harvest. This brings
about a lot of constrain as you either pay high for the harvesting or you lose you fruits.
d) Processors:
Figure 9: Types of processing equipment used by Oil Palm Producers
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Artisanal millers have been identified and can be grouped as manual vertical press users and
combined motorized horizontal press users. In general, the motorized horizontal presses have a
higher production capacity (tons/ day) than the manuals presses. Experience also reveals that the
extraction rate slightly differs according to the type of press used. Once the FFB is harvested, it’s
kept for 3 to 6 days before extraction begins, bunches are chopped to ease the release of the
fruits. Once the fruits are out, they are being transported to the Mill by the transporters which is
then boiled and pressed to get crude palm oil. There are different types of artisanal oil press in the
catchment area, the manual press ‘turning’ and the motorized pressed.
e) Service providers:
Private agricultural service providers use several agricultural advisory and extension
approaches: among them some use agricultural extension approach, while others use advice to
the family farm approach, some also use organizational capacity building advice and demand
driven approaches. The terms for providing these agricultural extension and advisory services
depend on the rationalities of each of these providers. Some agricultural extension and advisory
services providers (NGOs, CIGs) promote agro-ecology through the diffusion of organic inputs,
while others promote conventional agriculture through the popularization of synthetic chemical
inputs. Access to services by beneficiaries is either paid-offerings or free-offerings. Findings also
reveal that in some cases, the actions of some of these providers in the field are intertwined and
lead to a collaborative relationship, while in other cases providers work completely
compartmentalized leading to negative effects and low performance of the local agricultural
extension and advisory system. There are several stakeholders including State and Non-State
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organizations, institutions and businesses who provided various services to POs and Small/
Medium and Large Holders during the years of 2021 and 2022. They have been profiled below:
Stakeholder type
Services provided to POs & Small / Medium Holders
MINADER (ACEFA)
Technical & Financial Support (Equipment & Inputs)
SOWEDA
Infrastructure (road) Maintenance / Supply of Inputs
AIVDP
Institutional Support (Capacity Building & Infrastructure &
NGOs
Input Supply
Wholesalers & Retailers
Purchase of Produce / Supply of inputs / Provision of
Containers
Transporters (Pick-ups,
Transportation of produce from farms to processing mills and
Motorbike Riders, Truck pushers,
to the markets
Head load Carriers)
Technicians
Machine & Equipment maintenance and repairs
Local Councils
Supply of Material Support (Tools)
f) Transporters:
 National Highway No. passes through the catchment area
 Water bodies such as the River Yoke and River Moungo are used for irrigation and
transportation of oil products and inputs (use of ferry at Penda Mboko)
g) Markets:
The major markets for palm oil and bi-products include Muea, Buea, Limbe and Douala.
Some buyers come from the federal Republic of Nigeria during peak seasons.
6. Spatial Map of the Catchment:
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7. Challenges encountered:
 Oil palm producers are not organized and legalized. They do not have the orientation as
Business Operators. Consequently they are suspicious and reticent in sharing information
on their business transactions thinking that information given might end up in the hands of
Council and taxation authorities.
 Producers do not keep proper records (administrative or financial). Records are either not
available or the quality of the recordings are insufficient.
 Absence of standardization in quantity, quality and prices.
 Variations in planting materials utilized affect the productivity as well as producer incomes.
 The use low quality equipment (manual, motorized and hydraulic) adversely affects the
extraction rates, quality of the palm oil and ultimately the income of producers.
 There is constant Harassment from Uniform Officers
 Product handling methods throughout the value chain process are largely in-hygienic. This
can easily result in contamination.
 Oil palm producers do not adequately exploit the bi-products of the palm tree including the
kernel, cone and the branches.
8. Recommendations:
Facilitate the mobilization and organization of oil palm producers into veritable enterprises
tht function pure from the viewpoints of service delivery and profit maximization.
Build the capacities of oil palm producers based on their falt needs which have been
addressed through this initiative by the AIVDP.
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Solicit collaboration with several large size holders (8 hectares and above) for the
establishment of giant nurseries that benefit oil palm producers.
Facilitate the establishment of Community Farms within the framework of agreements with
the Traditional Councils in high production villages within the catchment area.
9. Conclusion:
The oil palm provides local communities (including those within the Bombe catchment area) with
much material, social and cultural uses ranging from food to traditional rites, pharmacopoeia through
decoration and construction materials, contributing to their well-being and their socio-cultural development.
For the traditional pharmacopoeia, red palm oil is an antidote to poisons; palm kernel oil is useful for skin
care in both new-borns and adults. Lastly, palm wine appears inescapable in all traditional ceremonies and
rites concerning enthronement, weddings, deaths and funerals.
Artisanal processing methods are used by oil palm producers within the catchment area exposes them to
hazardous conditions which ultimately affects their health in the long run. The actors are disorganized,
processes within the chain are not standardized, and there is lack of social security for smallholders
including several land disputes which sometimes end in litigation. The challenge is for oil palm producers to
get organized, standardize heir operations, engage in modern enterprise management techniques as well
as pull their resources together in order to maximize the benefits from economies of scale and collective
bargaining.
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10. Annexes:
Picture Gallery:
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