Anglophone Crisis: Affecting Palm oil production | BEAC

The bank of Central African States known by its French acronym BEAC has disclosed that palm oil production in Cameroon will next year start witnessing a hike after the serious low in production orchestrated by the armed conflict in the Northeast and Southwest Regions.

According to the report issued by the Central Bank recently, the conflict in the two English-speaking Regions is said to have been causing disruption in major production centers like the Cameroon Development Corporation and PAMOL plantations in the Southwest Region.

We observe that over a year ago soldiers destroyed hundreds of privately oil palm mills in Ndian Division.

The Central African bank report projects that palm oil production in Cameroon is expected to reach 400,000 tons this year, adding that the upward trend will continue with volumes reaching 425,000 tons in 2023 and 2024.

Despite the overall upturn in production, the BEAC report suggests that over the next three years, Cameroon will continue to import palm oil, to meet local demands and guarantee an adequate supply of most processing units.

But with respect to the amount of rainfall, experts say the most productive regions for oil palm production among others include the Southwest, adding it explains why some of the oil palm agro-industries are located in the Southwest Region.

The Southwest is home to Cameroon Development Corporation and PAMOL plantations.

There are also many smallholder schemes in the southwest region notably in Muyuka, Yoke, Malende, Bekora, and Bongongo in Ndian Division