Project title: Diversification in oil palm production landscape for food and livelihoods
Project number: SMP-19072
Requesting country: Sierra Leone
Year: 2019
Budget: € 40,000
Project leader: Wolter Elbersen
Knowledge institute: Wageningen University & Research
Project partners: East West Seeds, Solidaridad Europe, Natural Habitats, Solidaridad West Africa, Renature, Verstegen Spices

Summary
Natural Habitats SL – a Dutch company dedicated to the production and trade in organic oil palm – is investing in a green field oil palm plantation in the Southern province of Sierra Leone. Over the past 3 years Solidaridad West Africa has worked in partnership with Natural Habitats to ensure the land lease arrangements for the green field plantation comply with the national land policy in Sierra Leone as well as with international best practice. The main achievements have been a significant reduction of the lease area, increased awareness of land rights among communities in the project area and  informed decision making by land owning families to lease a portion of their land (or not) for oil palm production and set aside sufficient land for food crops. To support farmers livelihood options farmer groups have been organized and received support to invest in staple food crop production (rice, groundnut, cassava) through provision of tools, planting material and training.

Considering the vulnerable context of food insecurity in Sierra Leone and specifically in the Pujehun district where the company is active, an important component of the project is also to support livelihood of communities in and around the identified land for oil palm development. The ambition of the company is to continue the food security support through direct and indirect pathways. Identified opportunities are:

1. On plantation: temporary or permanent intercropping within the new planting of oil palm
2. Within or between plantation: supporting rice cultivation in inland valley swamps
3. Community level: supporting food crop and vegetable production on family lands

Considering the aim of green organic oil palm an optimisation of the use of natural resources, notably nutrients and carbon, but also land, in the phase of plantation and mil is targeted. We aim at circularity and integrative ecological approaches. Assessment of biomass streams and their most effective use is therefore important especially for environmental friendly production.

Presentation