The UK's AgDevCo has made a $7 million investment in Planting Naturals, a producer of organic palm oil in Sierra Leone that operates a vertically integrated model, sourcing fruits from both its own plantations and a growing network of smallholder farmers.
The tree-planting campaign is the first implementation phase of a 30-year project involving 14 classified forests in the Lagunes and Comoé districts, covering a total area of 155,000 hectares, in which up to 12 million trees will be planted in abandoned or unused areas, produced in nurseries managed by local communities and cooperatives.
The Civil Society Oil Palm Working Group of Liberia has called on the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil to immediately reinstate the stop-work order on Golden Veroleum Liberia, citing unresolved compliance issues and unfulfilled conditions related to land use and community rights.
President William Ruto has moved to mediate the dispute over Yala Swamp in Siaya County, where local communities are clashing with investors over control of the vast farmland.
The controlling shareholders of Brazil sugar and ethanol producer Raizen SA, which controls 1.3 million hectares of sugar cane plantations, are in talks to sell a stake to Mitsubishi Corp. as part of a plan to raise capital.
Under the agreement, community development (education, healthcare, livelihoods and infrastructure) will be linked to the company's profits in Sierra Leone.
"Existing disputes related to land lease, environmental concerns and support to the community have remained challenging," the Chief Minister says
Chinese investors from China Overseas Engineering Co. Ltd. announced plans to invest $150 million in 4,000 hectares of land to be provided by the Katsina State government.
The investors are seeking more than 70,000 hectares of land for large scale project rice and maze farming, cassaba processing, solar energy and the assembly of agricultural machineries.
A high-powered delegation from the China Overseas Engineering Corporation reiterated its commitment to develop a modern agricultural ecosystem in Nigeria's Oyo State, encompassing mechanized farming, high-value crop production, livestock, fisheries, and agro-processing.
Five months after the World Bank’s private investment arm submitted its action plan to address community grievances against a rubber plantation it funds in Liberia, affected residents are still waiting for its implementation.
The deal will channel funds into areas including agriculture, infrastructure, fisheries, livestock, logistics, and energy according to a statement.
