Implementation at Presco Plc, Nigeria, of RSPO (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil) social criteria for relations between agroindustrial companies and local populations : Report on the mission to Nigeria from 9 to 23 April 2006

Chambon Bénédicte. 2006. Implementation at Presco Plc, Nigeria, of RSPO (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil) social criteria for relations between agroindustrial companies and local populations : Report on the mission to Nigeria from 9 to 23 April 2006. Montpellier : CIRAD-CP, 43 p. N° de rapport : CP_SIC 2008

Résumé : Extension of the Presco oil palm estates (a SIAT group site in Nigeria) in the Ologbo zone is taking place in a context of strong land pressure and tension, or even potential conflict with the local populations, who widely use the Presco concession for their agricultural activities, and more generally to exploit natural resources (non-wood forest products, etc.). It is therefore necessary for the administrator to have tools whereby impact on local populations can be monitored, in order to guide his actions with a view to limiting conflict. In addition, RSPO, of which SIAT is a member, has launched a pilot implementation period for testing principles and criteria in different local contexts. SIAT has volunteered to take part in that test; work being undertaken as part of the collaboration between SIAT and CIRAD on the social approach to sustainable development of oil palm estates could therefore fit into that pilot period. The main purpose of this mission was to start testing criteria concerning the relations between agroindustry and local populations in the SIAT/Presco context, and to make a contribution, notably in the choice of indicators, to the RSPO principles and criteria pilot implementation period. First of all, we sought to check with Presco that the criteria and indicators proposed by RSPO concerning relations between the company and the local populations were relevant and could be implemented in the local context of SIAT group's operation in Nigeria. Discussions were therefore held with Presco management and certain employees; they provided some initial feedback from the field regarding the criteria and indicators proposed by RSPO and led to a certain number of points being raised that were worth going into in more detail or completing. In addition, a quick assessment seemed to indicate that if the criteria and indicators were abided by such as they were currently being proposed, Presco ought not to encounter any major problems in meeting RSPO requirements regarding its relations with the local populations. It would particularly be a matter of formalizing and documenting the procedures that already exist. Lastly, we propose testing the criteria and indicators concerning relations between the company and the local populations in a more precise manner with Presco. Such testing of the criteria and indicators ought to provide Presco with the opportunity not only of expressing its views on the RSPO proposals, but also helping to improve them on the basis of its knowledge and of the situation in the field. In addition, in order to ensure sustainable palm oil production, it seems important for the proposed indicators to make it possible not only to check that the resources used (texts, procedures, social impact assessment, etc.) exist but also, and especially, that those resources are being effectively applied and are having the desired effect in the field. We therefore suggest adding to the RSPO proposals a certain number of sub-criteria (for criterion 6.1) and result (or impact) indicators, so as to more effectively take into account the relations between the agroindustrial company and the local populations. Based on the bibliography available, after tapping into the knowledge of CIRAD experts, and following discussions with some Presco staff members, an initial non-exhaustive list of indicators was drawn up that could be used to measure how the development of an agroindustrial company impacts on the local populations. The local populations in six different villages and camps were then consulted to carry out an initial validation of the relevance of the sub-criteria and indicators proposed, and to determine with those populations, the way(s) in which the indicators could be measured. Following that consultation of local populations, the list of criteria, sub-criteria and indicators was long. It is therefore proposed that monitoring be organized with two main objectives: 1) determine how sustainable development of the Pres

Auteurs et affiliations

• Chambon Bénédicte, CIRAD-CP-UPR Systèmes de pérennes (FRA)

Source : Cirad - Agritrop (https://agritrop.cirad.fr/536740/)

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