Rhebergen, Tiemen, and Nelson, Paul N. (2025) Challenges and opportunities for intensifying oil palm cultivation in West-Central Africa, using a case study of Ghana. Oil Palm Industry Economic Journal, 25 (2). pp. 31-49.

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Abstract

The global demand for palm oil, an economically important product in tropical regions, continues to rise rapidly. To meet this demand, there is a focus on expanding oil palm production, particularly in Latin America and Africa. However, in West and Central Africa, biophysical constraints, such as sub-optimal climate conditions and poor management practices, limit yields. Socioeconomic issues, including a lack of skilled labour and disorganised industry expansion, further hinder production. Opportunities for intensification are thus considerable in West Africa, where fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yields are ~56% lower than those of major producers in Southeast Asia and ~47% lower than in Latin America. This study reviewed opportunities for yield intensification in oil palm cultivation, using Ghana as a case study, while considering both agronomic and socio-economic factors. Findings suggest that palm oil production increases can arise from increasing the fruit supply from smallholders, who are the dominant producers in Ghana (~95%) and promoting specific practices for yield intensification, such as improved harvesting and nutrient management. Increasing average yields to a biophysically achievable 21 t ha–1 could significantly boost national FFB production, potentially eliminating the need for additional land, and meeting Ghana’s current annual demand for crude palm oil without expansion. Yield intensification strategies could therefore underpin effective strategies for agricultural intensification in Ghana and the broader West-Central Africa region. Achieving this requires collaborative efforts between industry stakeholders, including plantations, smallholders and government intervention

Item ID:	89438
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2948-3557
Keywords:	land sparing, plantation, smallholder, yield gap, yield intensification.
Date Deposited:	12 Nov 2025 00:17
FoR Codes:	30 AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND FOOD SCIENCES > 3004 Crop and pasture production > 300403 Agronomy @ 60% 30 AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND FOOD SCIENCES > 3002 Agriculture, land and farm management > 300210 Sustainable agricultural development @ 30% 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4404 Development studies > 440407 Socio-economic development @ 10%
SEO Codes:	26 PLANT PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 2606 Industrial crops > 260699 Industrial crops not elsewhere classified @ 60% 26 PLANT PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 2601 Environmentally sustainable plant production > 260199 Environmentally sustainable plant production not elsewhere classified @ 30% 15 ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK > 1505 Microeconomics > 150504 Industry costs and structure @ 10%
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