Currently the Guinean Oil Palm and Rubber Company (SOGUIPAH) is the largest rubber and oil palm producer in the country accounting for significant employment and income generation at the national and the local level (see Section 2.1 ).
Are oil palms native to West Africa?
The African oil palm, Elaeis guineensis, is native to West Africa and in terms of agriculture, it is perhaps the world’s most important palm species. Oil palm fruits are available year-round and have served as semi-wild food resources in traditional societies for >7000 years.
Why is palm oil important to Papua New Guinea?
These wild places are also relied upon for palm oil, the largest produced agricultural commodity in the country. In 2017, palm oil production contributed to $344 million of the country’s total export earnings, providing employment to upwards of 200,000 Papua New Guineans.
Where does palm oil come from?
The African oil palm E. guineensis (from Guinea) is the principal source of palm oil. It is native to west and southwest Africa, occurring between Angola and Gambia. The American oil palm E. oleifera (from Latin oleifer ‘oil-producing’) is native to tropical Central and South America, and is used locally for oil production.
Why is oil palm important?
The oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis Jacquin) is economically important for its oil and has become one of the major oil crops of the world. For a long time it was the “poor man’s cooking oil,” but with the fossil fuel reserves fast depleting, it has become a much sought-after “green fuel.”
What crops are produced in Guinea?
Rubber and oil palm are the major industrial crops produced in the region, with coffee being less (but increasingly) popular ( Section 1 ). Diecke accommodates some of the operations of the largest industrial crop company in Guinea, the Guinean Oil Palm and Rubber Company (SOGUIPAH).