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78-636: Ghana became a recognized, independent country in 1957. While under the colonial rule of Great Britain, Ghana's agricultural structure was engineered to produce lucrative crops ( palm oil in the 19th century and cocoa in the 20th century) for the profit of the British mainland. Because living conditions in Ghana were harsh on Europeans, settler-agriculture was not a significant presence and instead Ghanaian agriculture under British rule relied primarily on peasants. Peasant populations in Ghana willingly collaborated with

156-538: A capacity of 800,000 tons per year and produces hydrodeoxygenated NEXBTL biodiesel from palm oil imported from Malaysia and Indonesia. Significant amounts of palm oil exports to Europe are converted to biodiesel (as of early 2018: Indonesia: 40%, Malaysia 30%). In 2014, almost half of all the palm oil in Europe was burned as car and truck fuel. As of 2018, one-half of Europe's palm oil imports were used for biodiesel. Use of palm oil as biodiesel generates three times

234-767: A carcinogen). Reports of indigenous peoples and communities in Indonesia, indicate losing farmland and traditionally significant land due to palm oil industry expansion. In 2017, there were over 650 different land disputes between palm oil plantations and indigenous land owners. Indigenous communities also expressed concern over the loss of natural resources, such as wild rubber, reed, and adat forests (communal forests). Indigenous communities have made some ground when it comes to land disputes, either through protest or legal means. Other concerns when it comes to indigenous communities being impacted include lack of government oversight on palm oil plantations, political corruption, or

312-462: A cheap substitute for butter or hydrogenated vegetable oils in uses where solid fat is desirable, such as the making of pastry dough and baked goods. Palm oil is used in West African cuisine such as egusi soup and okra soup . Palm oil is sometimes used as a minor ingredient in calf milk replacer. Palm oil is pervasively used in personal care and cleaning products, and it provides

390-462: A diverse array of Ghanaians. The AFB especially facilitated loans for non-farmers who were willing to become involved in agriculture, as well as owners of large parcels of farmable land. Initially, the AFB had stricter requirements for peasant farmers to receive loans, but eventually requirements for these were also lightened. Operation Feed Yourself is considered a failure as the program began to falter by

468-513: A highly sought-after commodity by British traders for use as an industrial lubricant for machinery during Britain's Industrial Revolution . Palm oil formed the basis of soap products, such as Lever Brothers ' (now Unilever ) " Sunlight " soap, and the American Palmolive brand. By around 1870, palm oil constituted the primary export of some West African countries, which often led to oppressive labor practices, as highlighted in

546-407: A loan. These requirements were accompanied by difficulties in attaining documentation, which entailed travel to the capital city of Accra . Operation Feed Yourself also saw many farmers who received government benefits depart from crop production for domestic use towards export crops. These farmers justified their abandonment of domestic efforts for more lucrative export-oriented agriculture based on

624-477: A lot of palm nut species, which may become an important contributor to the agriculture of the region. Although Ghana has multiple palm species, ranging from local palm nuts to other species locally called agric, it was only marketed locally and to neighboring countries. Production is now expanding as major investment funds are purchasing plantations, because Ghana is considered a major growth area for palm oil. Kenya 's domestic production of edible oils covers about

702-444: A premise that foods such as maize, rice and sorghum are insufficiently produced in Ghana, producing losses in potential GDP help to the country. Solutions that the program puts forth include government subsidies of high quality seeds and fertilizers, education regarding effective farming practices and the strengthening of connections between farmers and potential buyers of crops both in the public and private spheres. The program will cost

780-436: A profitable national asset. It's worth noting that in 2020, the bank received a significant infusion of GHC 800 million to bolster its capital position. However, NIB could not meet its objective. In July 2023, the bank underwent a comprehensive review to evaluate its sustainability as a state-owned financial institution. Dr. Ernest Addison highlighted that the bank, along with several other financial institutions, grappled with

858-462: A quarter of the burned area. The widespread deforestation and other environmental destruction in Indonesia, much of which is caused by palm oil production has often been described by academics as an ecocide . Environmental groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth oppose the use of palm oil biofuels, claiming that the deforestation caused by oil palm plantations is more damaging for

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936-499: A region accounts for 52.5 million metric tons (57.9 million short tons) of palm oil production, about 85% of the world total and more than 90% of global exports. Indonesia accounts for 52% of world exports. Malaysian exports total 38%. The biggest consumers of palm oil are India, the European Union, and China, with the three consuming nearly 50% of world exports. Thailand's Department of Internal Trade (DIT) usually sets

1014-478: A study from the Environmental, Science and Policy, Colombia has the potential to produce sustainable palm oil without causing deforestation . In addition, palm oil and other crops provide a productive alternative for illegal crops, like coca . Ecuador aims to help palm oil producers switch to sustainable methods and achieve RSPO certification under initiatives to develop greener industries. Ghana has

1092-515: A system for collecting, transporting, storing and trading crops within the country. The purposes of this system were to ensure the existence of a buyer for crops cultivated in rural areas, and to provide a means for these food products to reach urban areas. For example, agencies such as Meat Marketing Board, State Fishing Corporation and Food Distribution Corporation purchased crops from farmers and sold them at discounted prices to urban-dwellers. In an effort to motivate increased agricultural production,

1170-434: A system of export-oriented agriculture in exchange for the compensation provided by British rule. As a result, Ghana's agricultural system leading up to Operation Feed Yourself was export-oriented and produced crops tailored for European rather than domestic tastes. Kofi Abreba Busia's regime as Prime Minister immediately preceded the regime of Ignatius Kutu Acheampong and Operation Feed Yourself. Busia's removal from office at

1248-539: A third of its annual demand, estimated at 380,000 metric tons (420,000 short tons). The rest is imported at a cost of around US$ 140 million a year, making edible oil the country's second most important import after petroleum. Since 1993 a new hybrid variety of cold-tolerant, high-yielding oil palm has been promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in western Kenya. As well as alleviating

1326-653: A threat to edible palm oil supplies. According to a 2009 study published in the Environmental Science and Policy journal, palm oil biodiesel might increase the demand for palm oil in the future, resulting in the expansion of palm oil production, and therefore an increased supply of food. One report indicated numerous allegations of human rights violations in the production of palm oil in Indonesia and Malaysia, including exposure to hazardous pesticides , child labor , rape and sexual abuse , and unsafe carrying loads. These incidents may receive no response by

1404-422: Is a common cooking ingredient in the tropical belt of Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of Brazil. Its use in the commercial food industry in other parts of the world is widespread because of its lower cost and the high oxidative stability ( saturation ) of the refined product when used for frying. One source reported that humans consumed an average 17 pounds (7.7 kg) of palm oil per person in 2015. Palm oil

1482-472: Is a mixture of water, crude palm oil, and fibers from the palm fruit. A minimum degree of processing is required to obtain the oil. The mixture is first passed through a filter to remove the solids, then separated by density to remove the water. Density treatment can also act as a basic form of degumming, provided that the fruit is steamed before milling to hydrolyze the gum, at a cost of also losing some triglycerides to hydrolysis. The result of basic processing

1560-413: Is a source of Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Crude PO can be refined to remove its non-triglyceride components. RBD PO is also known as white palm oil . It can be further fractionated using the different melting points of its components. The part with a higher melting point, which crystalizes out as a solid earlier, is called palm stearin . It consists of mostly saturated fats. The remaining liquid part

1638-477: Is applied to wounds for its supposed antimicrobial effects, research does not confirm its effectiveness. In 2023–2024, world production of palm oil was 77.3 million tonnes , led by Indonesia with 57% of the total. The annual production of palm oil is projected to reach 240 million tonnes by 2050. During the 2022 food crises instigated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and crop failures in other parts of

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1716-495: Is called palm olein . It is also possible to fractionate at a different point of processing, even with crude palm oil. RBD PO, or "palm shortening ", is extensively used in food manufacture. It is valued for its low polyunsaturated fat content, which offers high stability against rancidity and allows it to replace hydrogenated fats in a variety of baked and fried products. The highly saturated nature of palm oil renders it solid at room temperature in temperate regions, making it

1794-460: Is called a "crude palm oil" or a " red palm oil ", referring to its intense color due to the high carotenoid content. Red palm oil is a traditional cooking oil in West Africa. The free fatty acids within provide a "bite" to the flavor. The triglyceride part is around 50% saturated fat —considerably less than palm kernel oil —and 40% monounsaturated fat and 10% polyunsaturated fat . It

1872-596: Is created through a process called transesterification . Palm oil biodiesel is often blended with other fuels to create palm oil biodiesel blends. Palm oil biodiesel meets the European EN 14214 standard for biodiesels. Hydrodeoxygenated biodiesel is produced by direct hydrogenolysis of the fat into alkanes and propane. The world's largest palm oil biodiesel plant is the €550 million Finnish-operated Neste Oil biodiesel plant in Singapore , which opened in 2011 with

1950-402: Is much more efficient than other oils in terms of land and water usage; however, deforestation causes more biodiversity loss than switching to other oils. The biggest global producers of palm oil are Indonesia, who produced 60% of it in 2022, followed by Malaysia, Thailand, and Nigeria. Indonesia produces biodiesel primarily from palm oil. Humans used oil palms as far back as 5,000 years. In

2028-682: Is not red), and in saturated fat content: palm mesocarp oil is 49% saturated, while palm kernel oil and coconut oil are 81% and 86% saturated fats, respectively. However, crude red palm oil that has been refined, neutralized, bleached and deodorized, a common commodity called RBD (refined, bleached, and deodorized) palm oil, does not contain carotenoids. Many industrial food applications of palm oil use fractionated components of palm oil (often listed as "modified palm oil") whose saturation levels can reach 90%; these "modified" palm oils can become highly saturated, but are not necessarily hydrogenated . The oil palm produces bunches containing many fruits with

2106-430: Is produced when processing oil palm, including oil palm shells and oil palm fruit bunches, can also be used to produce energy. This waste material can be converted into pellets that can be used as a biofuel. Additionally, palm oil that has been used to fry foods can be converted into methyl esters for biodiesel. The used cooking oil is chemically treated to create a biodiesel similar to petroleum diesel. Although palm oil

2184-588: Is still produced by women for domestic use. The FAO additionally states that peasants in Benin practice agroecology . They harvest palm fruit from small farms and the palm oil is mostly used for local consumption. Cameroon had a production project underway initiated by Herakles Farms in the United States. However, the project was halted under the pressure of civil society organizations in Cameroon. Before

2262-503: Is the world's second largest producer of palm oil, producing 19.7 million tonnes in 2023-24. In 1992, in response to concerns about deforestation , the Government of Malaysia pledged to limit the expansion of palm oil plantations by retaining a minimum of half the nation's land as forest cover . As of 2023-24, Nigeria was the fifth-largest producer, with 1.5 million tonnes. Both small- and large-scale producers participate in

2340-472: Is to be the best in customer relationship and satisfaction, and also to create the best value for their share holders. The origins of the bank's history can be traced back to the aftermath of the Second World War (WWII). During this period, there were agitations among the indigenous population due to the influx of foreign imports. In response to these concerns, a widespread boycott was organized by

2418-461: Is traditionally, and still industrially, produced by milling the fruits of oil palm. Besides milling, palm oil is produced by cold-pressing the fruit of the oil palm since the 1990s. This type of artisanal palm oil is usually not further refined, so they keep the natural red color. It is bottled for use as a cooking oil , in addition to other uses such as being blended into mayonnaise and vegetable oil . The result of milling or cold-pressing

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2496-468: The Indochinese tiger . Forests have been cleared in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia to make space for oil-palm monoculture . This has significant impacts on the local ecosystems leading to deforestation and biodiversity loss . For example, these processes have resulted in significant acreage losses of the natural habitat of the three surviving species of orangutan . One species in particular,

2574-932: The Sumatran orangutan , has been listed as critically endangered because of habitat loss due to palm oil cultivation. In addition to environmental concerns, palm oil development in regions that produce it has also led to significant social conflict . Regions with fast growing palm oil production have experienced significant violations of indigenous land rights, influxes of illegal immigrant labor and labor practices, and other alleged related human rights violations. The palm oil industry has had both positive and negative impacts on workers, indigenous peoples and residents of palm oil producing communities. Palm oil production provides employment opportunities, and has been shown to improve infrastructure , social services and reduce poverty. However, in some cases, oil palm plantations have developed lands without consultation or compensation of

2652-524: The Accra City Hotel), Kabel Metal (now Nexans Kabelmetal), and Aluworks significantly benefited from equity participation and financial support. In 2021, the government entrusted NIB Bank with a vital mission: to establish Ghana as the industrial hub of Africa. Hon Ken Ofori-Atta, in a statement to the NIB, encouraged the bank's Board of Directors to put in the effort needed to transform the bank into

2730-577: The African Development Bank as reason for discontinuing loans. Additionally, owners of large farms held close ties with bureaucratic actors (some were the same actors) and were able to benefit from resources at the government's disposal at much higher rates than peasants, who composed a large majority of the farming workforce. The organizational structure of Operation Feed Yourself included a large bureaucracy, and many bureaucratic bodies did not prioritize small-scale and peasant farmers in

2808-956: The Department of Fisheries, the Seed Multiplication Unit, the Crop Production Unit and the Agricultural Mechanization Unit. The National Operations Committee had am important agent for the execution of its plans in the Program Control Executive, who issued all instructions within Operation Feed Yourself. At the regional level, the principal position was the Regional Commissioner. There was one Regional Commissioner for each of

2886-581: The Ghanaian government declaring Operation Feed Yourself a success after its first two years. Because large-scale farmers were prioritized for the distribution of state resources by the government over small-scale farmers, their abandonment of efforts to grow crops for domestic use left Ghana stranded during a time of food shortages. On May 6, 2017, President of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) publicly suggested that

2964-550: The Meat Marketing Board. The combination of these three factors resulted in large amounts of spoiled food items and prices on food crops that were unaffordable to the average worker. Operation Feed Yourself saw government subsidies and loans be granted to large-scale farmers especially. A significant issue became when these funds were u for personal expenditures instead of crop growth. Activities which mismanaged funds included paying-off old debts and were identified by

3042-487: The account of Abina Mansah's life. However, this was overtaken by cocoa in the 1880s with the introduction of colonial European cocoa plantations. Palm oil is naturally reddish in color because of a high beta-carotene content. It is not to be confused with palm kernel oil derived from the kernel of the same fruit or coconut oil derived from the kernel of the coconut palm ( Cocos nucifera ). The differences are in color (raw palm kernel oil lacks carotenoids and

3120-687: The carbon emissions as using fossil fuel, and, for example, "biodiesel made from Indonesian palm oil makes the global carbon problem worse, not better." There are pressures for increased oil palm production from Indonesian palm-based biodiesel programs. The biodiesel currently contains a 30:70 palm oil to conventional diesel ratio (known as B30) at the gas pumps. The Indonesian government is aiming to produce 100% palm oil biodiesel (or B100) to transition out of using conventional diesel. The Indonesian government has estimated it would need to establish approximately 15 million hectares of oil palm plantations to meet these future demands. The organic waste matter that

3198-417: The challenge of being under-capitalized. This issue was part of the broader financial sector cleanup carried out in 2022. The Government of Ghana contemplated a strategic move, suggesting that ADB might assume control of NIB to initiate a restructuring process. This decision arose from NIB's ongoing struggle to achieve profitability, leading to the realization that the government couldn't sustainably fund

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3276-456: The chamber consider reigniting Operation Feed Yourself a way to address food security issues as well as national employment levels. One year later, on October 3, 2017, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture published a plan for the implementation of a new program titled Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) , a program inspired by Operation Feed Yourself. Planting for Food and Jobs was created on

3354-505: The climate than the benefits gained by switching to biofuel and using the palms as carbon sinks . National Investment Bank National Investment Bank , normally abbreviated to NIB , is a state owned commercial bank in Ghana . It is one of the commercial banks licensed by the Bank of Ghana , the national banking regulator. NIB was form to promote industrialization of all sectors in

3432-529: The company or police, or are left unreported because victims fear retaliation from their abuser. Pesticides used by palm oil plantations include paraquat , which has been banned in Europe over links to Parkinson's disease , and glyphosate , which has been involved in a US class-action lawsuit regarding cancer (the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) classified glyphosate as causing serious eye damage but did not find evidence implicating it as

3510-542: The country's deficit of edible oils while providing an important cash crop, it is claimed to have environmental benefits in the region, because it does not compete against food crops or native vegetation and it provides stabilisation for the soil. Palm oil was introduced to British Burma (now Myanmar) in the 1920s. Beginning in the 1970s, smaller-scale palm oil plantations were developed in Tanintharyi Region , and Mon , Kayin , and Rakhine States . In 1999,

3588-405: The country. It has undergone management and financial restructure to help it attain higher financial levels across the world. NIB is a medium-sized financial services provider in Ghana. As of December 2011 , the total valuation of the bank's assets was approximately US$ 468.5 million (GHS:878.9 million), with shareholders' equity of approximately US$ 47 million (GHS:88.1 million). The bank mission

3666-763: The countryside (e.g. lack of access to clean drinking water, electricity and good roads). By 1977, intervention by International Food Aid was needed in order to mitigate food shortages in Ghana. Operation Feed Yourself intended to increase accessibility and affordability of domestic food crops and in order to achieve this, the government sought to collect crops from rural farms, store them and transport them into cities. These operations were met with obstacles such as inaccessibility to many farms for government vehicles caused by poor-quality roads, insufficient storage facilities or storage facilities lacking conditions for proper food preservation , and pricing policies and rates that were not properly researched or updated by agencies such as

3744-493: The distribution of farming resources aimed toward agricultural production. These conditions combined to create several bureaucratic roadblocks for small-scale farmers. These roadblocks included requirements for documentation of land ownership in order to receive a loan from the African Development Bank, which was difficult to obtain when much rural land in Ghana was communally owned and allocated by chiefs. There also existed acreage requirements for cultivatable lands in order to secure

3822-523: The economic benefits, Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as Nature Tropicale , claim biofuels will compete with domestic food production in some existing prime agricultural sites. Other areas comprise peat land , whose drainage would have a deleterious environmental impact . They are also concerned genetically modified plants will be introduced into the region, jeopardizing the current premium paid for their non-GM crops. According to recent article by National Geographic , most palm oil in Benin

3900-452: The establishment of their businesses. The GCIDC played a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurship among the indigenous population, particularly in sectors such as furniture making and baking. This intervention not only supported local businesses but also enhanced the skills of carpenters and bakers by introducing mechanized sawmills and electric bakeries. The GCIDC also modernized laundry activities, which had traditionally been manual. This

3978-414: The fleshy mesocarp enclosing a kernel that is covered by a very hard shell. The FAO considers palm oil (coming from the pulp) and palm kernels to be primary products. The oil extraction rate from a bunch varies from 17 to 27% for palm oil, and from 4 to 10% for palm kernels. Along with coconut oil, palm oil is one of the few highly saturated vegetable fats and is semisolid at room temperature. Palm oil

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4056-420: The foaming agent in nearly every soap, shampoo, or detergent. Around 70% of personal care products including soap, shampoo, makeup, and lotion, contain ingredients derived from palm oil. However, there are more than 200 different names for these palm oil ingredients and only 10% of them include the word "palm". Palm oil is used to produce both methyl ester and hydrodeoxygenated biodiesel . Palm oil methyl ester

4134-774: The government US$ 717,548,101 over 4 years (2017–2020) and the structure is divided into a national, regional and district level. Palm oil Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocarp (reddish pulp) of the fruit of oil palms . The oil is used in food manufacturing, in beauty products, and as biofuel . Palm oil accounted for about 36% of global oils produced from oil crops in 2014. Palm oils are easier to stabilize and maintain quality of flavor and consistency in ultra-processed foods , so they are frequently favored by food manufacturers. Globally, humans consumed an average of 7.7 kg (17 lb) of palm oil per person in 2015. Demand has also increased for other uses, such as cosmetics and biofuels, encouraging

4212-591: The government subsidized the price of seeds and fertilizers, as well as farming tools such as hoes and cutlasses. Additionally, the government removed taxes on the import of agricultural machinery. The government also provided tax exemptions for income from cocoa specifically, and more generally, for farms within their first five years of operation. Institutions such as the National Investment Bank and African Development Bank became involved with Operation Feed Yourself by providing credit for loans to

4290-543: The growth of palm oil plantations in tropical countries. The use of palm oil has attracted the concern of environmental and human right groups . The palm oil industry is a significant contributor to deforestation in the tropics where palms are grown and has been cited as a factor in social problems due to allegations of human rights violations among growers. In 2018, a report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature acknowledged that palm oil

4368-405: The hands of Acheampong was strongly motivated by Ghana's economic performance under Busia. Busia's regime produced a decline in per capita production and per capita income without a proposed plan in response. Busia was also heavily reliant on aid from western countries, characteristic which was despised by Acheampong who hinged his regime on self-reliance. The primary goal of Operation Feed Yourself

4446-804: The indigenous people inhabiting the land, resulting in social conflict. The use of illegal immigrants in Malaysia has also raised concerns about working conditions within the palm oil industry. Some social initiatives use palm oil cultivation as part of poverty alleviation strategies. Examples include the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's hybrid oil palm project in Western Kenya, which improves incomes and diets of local populations, and Malaysia's Federal Land Development Authority and Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority, which both support rural development. The use of palm oil in

4524-719: The industry. In much of the Niger Delta , palm oil is commonoly referred to as "red oil" (or red gold) to distinguish it from the "black oil" ( crude oil ) which dominates production. Thailand is the world's third largest producer of crude palm oil, producing 3.6 million tonnes in 2023-24. Nearly all of Thai production is consumed locally. Almost 85% of palm plantations and extraction mills are in south Thailand. At year-end 2016, 4.7 to 5.8 million rai (750,000 to 930,000 hectares; 1,900,000 to 2,300,000 acres) were planted in oil palms, employing 300,000 farmers, mostly on small landholdings of 20 rai (3.2 hectares; 7.9 acres). ASEAN as

4602-431: The lacking of enforcement on laws meant to protect indigenous lands. In countries such as Guatemala, palm oil plantations have significant leverage within the local justice system, leading local police to disregard land claims, going as far as using force to break up protests, and even murdering local leaders. While only 5% of the world's vegetable oil farmland is used for palm plantations, palm cultivation produces 38% of

4680-461: The late 1800s, archaeologists discovered a substance that they concluded was originally palm oil in a tomb at Abydos dating back to 3,000 BCE. Palm oil from Elaeis guineensis has long been recognized in West and Central African countries, used widely as a cooking oil . European merchants trading with West Africa occasionally purchased palm oil for use as a cooking oil in Europe. Palm oil became

4758-621: The local community, led by the Association of West African Merchants (AWAM). Recognizing the need to address these issues and promote the involvement of private indigenous individuals in the business sector, the colonial administration took significant steps. As a result, the Gold Coast Industrial Development Corporation (GCIDC) was established in 1952, with allocated budgetary resources to provide financial support to indigenous entrepreneurs for

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4836-441: The mid-1970s. Signs of failure included general public discontent, a reduction in target acreage planted, domestic food products continuing to be expensive and the expansion of Ghana's budget deficit from 190 million cedis in 1972 to 807 million cedis in 1977. The number of urban residents who adopted agricultural enterprise also dwindled compared to the start of the program, likely due to perceived problems in infrastructure within

4914-438: The natural environment, including deforestation , loss of natural habitats, and greenhouse gas emissions which have threatened critically endangered species , such as the orangutan and Sumatran tiger . Slash-and-burn techniques are still used to create new plantations across palm oil producing countries. From January to September 2019, 857,000 hectares of land was burned in Indonesia; peatlands accounted for more than

4992-514: The nine regions. Regional Commissioners each led a Regional Agricultural Committee, which received directives from the National Operations Committee and the Program Control Executive. Underneath Regional Agricultural Committees were Regional Agricultural Coordinators, who supervised the distribution of information to farmers at the regional level. The actual distributor of information and primary source of contact for farmers

5070-504: The number of citizens working towards crop growth, and therefore, the Acheampong government made significant outreach efforts. These efforts included programming and propaganda on television and radio promoting agriculture. Additionally, the government employed its ties with institutions such as universities, the military, and prisons to encourage the creation of agricultural production units within each. The Acheampong government created

5148-508: The number of farmers nationwide by the year 1990. Additionally, the program projected gains in GDP contributed by agriculture from 1,800 million cedis at the start of the program to 2,600 million cedis by 1990. Ideologically, the goal of Operation Feed Yourself was self-reliance, an uplift of Ghana by its own people. With the intent to maximize crop production, Operation Feed Yourself divided Ghana's territory into 9 zones and assigned to each zone

5226-575: The price of crude palm oil and refined palm oil Thai farmers have a relatively low yield compared to those in Malaysia and Indonesia. Thai palm oil crops yield 4–17% oil compared to around 20% in competing countries. In addition, Indonesian and Malaysian oil palm plantations are 10 times the size of Thai plantations. Palm is native to the wetlands of western Africa, and south Benin already hosts many palm plantations. Its 'Agricultural Revival Programme' has identified many thousands of hectares of land as suitable for new oil palm export plantations. In spite of

5304-486: The production of biodiesel has led to concerns that the need for fuel is being placed ahead of the need for food, leading to malnutrition in developing nations. This is known as the food versus fuel debate. According to a 2008 report published in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews , palm oil was determined to be a sustainable source of both food and biofuel, and the production of palm oil biodiesel does not pose

5382-728: The production of the crops most profitably grown there. The zones and crop assignments were as follows: Eastern Region: cassava, maize, plantains, sugarcane, tea, avocado, citrus, and yams. Central region: maize, yams, cassava, plantain, rice, pineapple, and sugarcane. Western Region: plantain, palm oil, bananas, rice, and coconut. Ashanti Region: plantain, maize, soya bean, and yams. Brong Ahafo: tomatoes, plantain, maize, yams groundnuts, rice, and soya beans. Greater Accra: maize, cassava, vegetables, rice, watermelons, and cashew. Volta Region: cassava, rice, maize, and yams. Northern and Upper Regions: yams, guinea corn, maize, groundnut, millet, and rice. Operation Feed Yourself

5460-614: The project was halted, Herakles left the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil early in negotiations. The project has been controversial due to opposition from villagers and the location of the project in a sensitive region for biodiversity. In 2018, total palm oil production in Colombia reached 1.6 million metric tons (1.8 million short tons), representing some 8% of national agricultural GDP and benefiting mainly smallholders (65% of Colombia's palm oil sector). According to

5538-663: The ruling military junta, the State Peace and Development Council , initiated the large-scale development of such plantations, especially in Tanintharyi, the southernmost region of Myanmar. As of 2019, over 401,814 ha of palm oil concessions have been awarded to 44 companies. 60% of the awarded concessions consist of forests and native vegetation, and some concessions overlap with national parks, including Tanintharyi and Lenya National Parks , which have seen deforestation and threaten conservation efforts for endemic species like

5616-534: The world due to extreme weather caused by climate change , the Indonesian government banned exports of palm oil. This combined with a reduced harvest in Malaysia greatly increased global prices, while reducing availability causing ripple effects in the global supply chain. On 23 May 2022, the Indonesian government reopened trading hoping to balance supplies. Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil, producing 44 million tonnes in 2023-24. Malaysia

5694-438: The world's total vegetable oil supply. In terms of oil yield, a palm plantation is 10 times more productive than soybean , sunflower or rapeseed cultivation because the palm fruit and kernel both provide usable oil. Palm oil has garnered criticism from environmentalists due to the environmental importance of where it is grown. However, it is indisputably more efficient in comparison to other oil-producing plants. In 2016, it

5772-559: Was a program within Ghana's Ministry of Agriculture. The program's structure included components at the national and regional levels. At the national level, the principal agent leading Operation Feed Yourself was the Commissioner of Agriculture, who oversaw the entire program. Much of the program's implementation was carried out through the National Operations Committee, which was composed of departments specializing in food production and distribution: The Department of Agricultural Economy,

5850-526: Was found that palm oil farms produce around 4.17 metric tons of oil per hectare. By contrast other oils, such as sunflower, soybean, or peanut only produce 0.56, 0.39, and 0.16 metric tons respectively per hectare. Palm oil is the most sustainable vegetable oil in terms of yield, requiring one-ninth of land used by other vegetable oil crops. In the future, laboratory-grown microbes might achieve higher yields per unit of land at comparable prices. However, palm oil cultivation has been criticized for its impact on

5928-914: Was particularly significant as it addressed the practice of the Gold Coast intelligentsia, who were sending their suits to the United Kingdom for laundering. The enactment of the Act provided the framework for the National Investment Bank (NIB) to embark on joint ventures. This was in response to the financial constraints faced by Ghanaian manufacturers and the private sector in initiating startup ventures. NIB, with its capacity to provide loans and equity, initiated over 100 joint enterprises, including some regional development corporations that are no longer operational. Notably, major industries such as Nestle Ghana Limited , Novotel (now known as

6006-491: Was the District Agricultural Officer. Additionally, the following state agencies were charged with actual production and distribution: State Farms Corporation, Food Production Corporation, Settlement Division, Food Distribution Corporation, Grains and Legumes Development Board, State Fishing Corporation, Cotton Development Board, Pomazde Poultry Enterprise. Operation Feed Yourself sought to increase

6084-555: Was to increase the volume and diversity of agriculture intended for domestic consumption in Ghana. Specifically, the program's first "Five Year Plan" set as a goal 6% annual growth in agricultural output. Ghana had produced an annual growth rate in agricultural output of 2.6% between 1969 and 1972, therefore reaching 6% would require achieving a 3.4% annual growth soon after the program's initiation. This growth in agriculture would also have significant effects on employment levels. The Acheampong government projected an increase of 0.8 million in

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