An internal document recently posted on IRRI's website reveals that the Institute has been advising Saudi Arabia in the context of its strategy to acquire farm land overseas for its own food production.
Agricultural experts have called for a halt to moves by Gulf investors to snap up foreign land, amid claims that poor nations are losing much-needed farmland in a calculated land grab.
It's certainly questionable whether the lease of agricultural land to foreign countries for the purposes of their own food supply is in the best interests of Pakistan, even if it brings in agricultural technology. What do the Arab farmers have that our agricultural universities don't?
In June 2009, the Indian company Karuturi took up intensive farming in Ethiopia. The harvest will be exported to Asia and Europe.
Indiens et Saoudiens sont sur le point d’effectuer leur première récolte sur sol éthiopien. Le pays a prévu de céder 2,7 millions d’hectares aux étrangers.
Le gouvernement éthiopien mettra 2,7 millions d’hectares à disposition des investisseurs étrangers, 1,6 million d’ici à octobre, à des conditions privilégiées. Enquête excellente de l'Hebdo en Ethiopie et au Madagascar.
Pakistan's Ministry of Investment has decided to offer more than 7 million acres of farmland for long-term investment to the Emirates Investment Group and others. China and Saudi Arabia are also interested.
Estados e inversores privados compiten por comprar superficies en África, Asia y Latinoamérica
"Over the past few weeks the Saudi government has been in talks with us to lease 500,000 acres (202,400 hectares) of farmland and we are currently in the process of locating which land we could give them," Tauqir Ahmad Faiq at the ministry of agriculture, said
In April, concerns over farmers’ rights led the government of Pakistan’s Balochistan province to block direct deals between United Arab Emirates-based private investors and farmers.
Land buying firms no longer disclose their identities to avoid tarnishing their image
Al-Raghi a connu un investissement fructueux dans le secteur agricole égyptien où la société cultive 25 000 feddans (10 500 ha) dans le projet Tochka sur un total de 125 000 feddans (52 500 ha). La deuxième phase du projet commencera en début de 2010.
