05-06 Sep, 2012 - Accra, GHANA
La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra
La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra
New-York based agriculture company Herakles Farms announced its decision and new details for the phased development of its Cameroon palm oil subsidiary, SG Sustainable Oils Cameroon (SGSOC), to ensure sustainable, environmental and socially sensitive growth.
Currently, SGSOC has cultivated less than 30 hectares in the Nguti, Mundemba and Toko Sub-Divisions of South West Cameroon. This includes three nurseries with 7,000 mature trees ready to be transferred to the field. SGSOC had recently performed pre-clearing studies on the initial 2,000 hectares land being evaluated for field-planting development. The studies included an examination of the flora, fauna and habitat of the adjacent land to ensure maintenance and protection of all environmental and social high conservation value areas.
Bruce Wrobel, CEO of Herakles Farms stated, "Herakles Farms is committed to listening to the concerns of all stakeholders and modifying our practices where necessary. We want to be a responsible leader in developing sustainable agriculture that prioritizes community development”. He also said, "We are focused on balancing our commitments to the Government regarding job creation and economic development with the specific and important interests of the local communities, as well as NGOs and other stakeholders. We are proceeding in systematic phases in order to be responsive to all concerned. Going forward, we want to foster greater openness, transparency and collaboration in our activities."
In September 2009, SGSOC committed to development in Cameroon. The Company and the Government of Cameroon signed an agreement to develop approximately 70,000 hectares of oil palm in an area classified by the Government as secondary forest in the South West Region. In August 2011, SGSOC submitted an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the area to the Government of Cameroon. In September 2011, the Government issued its approval through a Certificate of Environmental Conformity. SGSOC expects approximately 60,000 hectares to be suitable for planting. Meanwhile, it has committed to perform additional pre-planting studies.
At the upcoming Palm Oil Africa in Accra on 05-06 September, Ms. Delilah Rothenberg, Project Manager of Herakles Farms / Herakles Capital is slated to present a talk entitled “Benefits and Challenges of Palm Oil in Africa – A Grower’s Perspective”.More details of palm oil development will be available at the summit.
REGISTER here to attend the event. Or contact Ms. Hafizah for enquiries at hafizah@cmtsp.com.sg
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