Essay competition on ‘Smallholders’ by Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries

A short story competition with the theme “smallholders and oil palm plantation” is now up for entries. The competition is organized by the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) to engage the communities and families living near or within the palm oil plantation. 

The stories should focus on the smallholders’ significant role in the palm oil industry, acknowledging thereby that their lives also face challenges. More than 40% of the global palm oil production is done by smallholders,

CPOPC said, “It is due time that we start recognizing smallholders’ substantial contributions to the palm oil industry in meeting one of the most important elements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), that is sustainable consumption and production”.

Through this competition, CPOPC hopes to convey the importance of establishing a global alliance of oil palm smallholders of palm oil producing countries where information sharing and collaboration will continue to take place.

This competition aims to make people appreciate the important role of smallholders in providing affordable vegetable oil for food and energy.

Winning entries may win up to USD1,000 and a chance to share real-life stories of smallholders’ efforts in managing their plantations and in creating a decent life for their families. CPOPC is offering prizes worth USD7,950 for all winning entries. All the winning stories will be published into a book. 

Participant may submit their stories of 500 to 750 words in different languages including English, French, Spanish, Bahasa Indonesia, and Bahasa Malaysia on the topics: Decent work, education, and sustainable community; Poverty alleviation, zero hunger, health, and economic growth; Climate action, environment, and biodiversity. The deadline for submission is July 31, 2021, and stories can be sent to cpopcstorycompetition@cpcopc.org. 

Details of the competition are available on cpopc.org/events/

Palm oil is the highest consumed vegetable oil in the world with Indonesia and Malaysia being its top producers. Bangladesh also produces Palm oil but on a very smaller scale, though it constitutes more than half of the total annual consumption of edible oil in the country.