the contract was signed not by sima mattia ... but by local chiefs who themselves pocketed from the deal. a lot of villagers have been reduced to growing the bare necessities, because they have been stripped of their land. the lease payments he receives are miniscule, says sima mattia. the best chance of survival? being recruited by the palm oil company. either way, it means completely dependency for locals. >> the families that used to depend on this plantation were over 50. but now the land is gone, the money they gave is gone, and living conditions are getting difficult for us. >> we wanted to talk to socfin, but were turned down. the company cited what it called negative media coverage in the past. 120 kilometers away, we find an alternative scenario. farmer sorie sesay has not leased his land. he grows palm fruit himself, along with other crops. the oil palms bear fruit for 25 years, but they can only be harvested three or four years after planting so it's a long-term investment. >> i decided to go into oil palm production 9

the contract was signed not by sima mattia ... but by local chiefs who themselves pocketed from the deal. a a lot of villagegers have bn redud d to grong t the be nessititie becau they have ben the ase paymts he recees the be chacompanurviva aeith way, iteans cpletelya. penden for local >> t famils that ud to dendnd on is plantation were over0. but now e landnd igone, the money theyave is ge, andnd living conditionarare geing diffult for us >> we nted ttalk to cfin, but were tned down. the company cited what it called negative media coverage in the past. 120 0 kilometers away, we findn alternrnative scenarario. farmrmer sorie sesesay has not leasased his land.d. he growsws palm fruit himself, along with other crops. the oil palms bear fruit for 25 years, but they can only be harvested three or four years after planting so it's a long-term investment. >> i decided to go into oil palm production 9 years ago. this will be my pension. we can harvest it until i die. >> he has a large family, and they can harvest the fruit all year roun