Land grabbing in Ethiopia: Risk or opportunity for food security?
05 May, 2011
Despite its high agricultural potential, Ethiopia is the largest recipient of international food aid. The lack of transport infrastructure, poor development of irrigation structures, and soil degradation are just some of the reasons.
The Ethiopian government is currently staking its hopes on foreign direct investment in farmland. Critics talk of "land grabbing", but Ethiopia sees this as an opportunity to bring agricultural technology, know-how, and infrastructure into the country. As such, in early February this year, Ethiopia’s agriculture minister announced that 3 million hectares would be leased to foreign investors.
It is doubtful, however, that the present 2.8 million recipients of humanitarian food aid will benefit. Experiences with existing lease agreements do not provide much ground for optimism. According to a report by IIED, FAO, and IFAD, the leases extend for several decades and the maximum price amounts to US $10 per hectare. Ethiopian farmers, on the other hand, often do not possess land certificates and have only land use rights, which they can be deprived of at any time.
Leasing has frequently resulted in exacerbating existing land conflicts. One example is the fertile but conflict-ridden Gambella region where the Ethiopian government is relocating 45,000 families. The local population has no legal means to fight the land grab because the land is owned by the state.
The big question is whether the government will be able to regulate the investment projects in such a way that the local population will actually benefit.
One of the key issues is whether the food produced will even stay in the country. The main investors are from countries such as India, China, and Saudi Arabia, which are themselves battling hunger and malnutrition. Leasing can only serve as a long-term remedy for Ethiopia's food insecurity if the agreements include binding commitments on the inclusion of indigenous farmers, environmental impact assessments, and export restrictions. Moreover, a revised and binding system of land tenure needs to be implemented. (Lena Donat)
Current information concerning the debate around land grabbing in Ethiopia can be found here: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=92292
You can find a detailed description of the situation in the Gambella region here.
Published in: ECC-Newsletter, 2/2011
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