the impact of palm oil growing the socio- economic welfare of the people in kalangala district: a case study of mugoye sub-county

Description

The study was about the effect of palm oil growing on the socio-economic welfare of the people of Mugoye sub-county in Kalangala District. The study was executed based on the subthemes derived from the study objectives, that is to identify the socio-economic benefits of palm oil growing on people, to examine the socio-economic challenges of palm oil production, to examine the environmental effects of palm oil growing and to identify solutions to the challenges associated with palm oil growing in Mugoye Sub- County, Kalangala District. The research study used both the qualitative and quantitative research approaches, and it was revealed that there are various benefits and environmental issues associated with palm oil growing on the welfare of the community as well as counter measures to address the environmental issues. In terms of the nature and activities of the Kalangala oil palm project, the study discovered that these consists of both positive and negative activities, for example, the positive ones included practice of subsistence agriculture where locals concentrate on growing local crops for foodstuffs, then the introduction of palm oil growing coming along with training, provision of loans and markets for the products while the later was a positive activity. In terms of the socio-economic challenges associated with palm oil growing on the environment and the people of Mugoye sub-county in Kalangala district, the study revealed that majority of the respondents were in agreement that they are various socio-economic problems associated with palm oil growing in Kalangala district. The study also found out that, there are various counter measures that can be adopted by the palm oil producing nations to thwart the environmental issues associated with its growing and consequent production. The study suggested that measures such as the use of carbon credit program to reduce emissions, carrying out environmental assessment, no bush burning policy, compensation for biodiversity losses, and enacting of protectionist legislation against the products of deforestation. The study recommended that there more positive financial and socio-economic approaches of oil palm adoption in the immediate surroundings of oil palm estates, that, loans are given to farmers to help them in the growing and harvesting of the palm oil. The research also recommends that the local community who are growing palm oil should form solid farmers’ groups/unions so that to advocate for fair prices of the fresh fruit bunch from the buyers. It also recommended that government should not force the people to do the project but rather entice them with good price offers, land preparation tools like power saws, slushier, tractors among others so that the community are attracted to the palm oil project hence a success. Government together with other stakeholders involved in the activities of oil palm project should not grab land from the locals by force but rather involve them in the farming or negotiate with them so that they can willingly sell their land to the project. This will create harmony and togetherness among the community and the project stakeholders. Farmers are recommended to grow food crops, short of this can lead to shortages of foodstuffs in the island, also the control of dubious buyers by the stakeholders should not be encouraged, this may lead to over exploitation of small farmers thus a disdain on the project.