India

At least 100 farmers joined a protest in front of the Department of Agriculture in Quezon City led by the members of the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) in the Philippines such as the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), AMIHAN (National Federation of Peasant Women), UMA (Union of Agricultural Workers), and the PAMALAKAYA (National Federation of Small Fisherfolks of the Philippines). Also present is the Anakpawis partylist and the National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates (NNARA)-Youth.

African continent is the new destination for Indian agriculture companies, as more than 80 of them have invested over Rs 10,800 crore in commercial farming activities in under-developed countries of the region.

Largest cut flower exporter Karuturi Global ventures into food business

THE NATIONAL Food Security Bill awaiting parliamentary approval should be backed by simultaneous plan to improve essential agricultural linkages as the demand is expected to exceed supply by 2020.

About 900 million hectares of arable land are not properly utilised for agriculture in Africa's rich soil, says Indian Minister of Industry, Commerce and Textile, Mr Anand Sharma.

Saudi Arabia is reducing grain production to reduce unsustainable use of groundwater and encouraging companies to lease tracts of land in Africa for growing, a new UN report on water says.

In the run up to Rio+20, the United Nation Environment Programme Foresight Panel has flagged the adverse impact of the "new land rush" as a cause of concern.

The government has decided to throw its might behind private purchases of farm land overseas to ensure food security for India.

The Indian government has no plans to buy farmland abroad or help private companies do so, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said on Monday, after a local media report said New Delhi was debating the issue.

“I wouldn’t define it as land grabbing. We exploit the economic opportunities which came about after the food price shock of 2007,” says Birinder Singh, the manager of Karuturi Agro Products. BBC slideshow.

According to Rana Kapoor, head of India's Yes Bank, Africa offers immense opportunity in terms of investment in large-scale commercial farming, quoting rates of return of 18-21% and above.

Thousands of residents of Amuru District community, in Uganda, could soon lose their land after Gulu High Court ruled that over 40,000 hectares be given to Madhvani Group of companies to grow sugarcane.