COMMISSIONS: The Curse of Palm Oil in Guatemala: 03-20180213palm0325

IZABAL, GUATEMALA. February 13, 2018 – Indigenous Mayan Q'eqchi communities such as Chapin Abajo .along Lake Izabal in eastern Guatemala, have no state presence. There is no police. Only a palm oil company provides jobs and health services. In the last 20 years, palm oil plantations in the region replaced former cattle ranches but it has exacerbated the struggle for land rights in the Polochic Valley. Palm oil plantations in Guatemala have the highest productivity per hectare of any country in the world, according to the Oil Palm Growers’ Guild in Guatemala (GREPALMA). The world average in palm oil productivity is four tons per hectare, whereas Guatemala is producing seven tons.

IZABAL, GUATEMALA. February 13, 2018 – Indigenous Mayan Q'eqchi communities such as Chapin Abajo .along Lake Izabal in eastern Guatemala, have no state presence. There is no police. Only a palm oil company provides jobs and health services. In the last 20 years, palm oil plantations in the region replaced former cattle ranches but it has exacerbated the struggle for land rights in the Polochic Valley.  

Palm oil plantations in Guatemala have the highest productivity per hectare of any country in the world, according to the Oil Palm Growers’ Guild in Guatemala (GREPALMA). The world average in palm oil productivity is four tons per hectare, whereas Guatemala is producing seven tons.