Investors deny Africa land grab claims
- Al Jazeera
- 26 June 2012
Investors interested in buying land in Africa, have denied accusations that they are involved in landgrabs, insisting their practice is the only way to feed growing populations.
Investors interested in buying land in Africa, have denied accusations that they are involved in landgrabs, insisting their practice is the only way to feed growing populations.
Africa's agricultural sector offers a great opportunity for international investors, an official with the OECD said Tuesday, but risks remain over controversial issues such as "land grabbing."
Report by HighQuest Partners for the OECD, October 2011, features 6 case studies of land grabbers: Agrica, CalyxAgro, Cazanae, Jantzen, NFD Agro and Quifel
Given the expected need for additional arable land to be brought into production on a global basis, the amount of capital that could enter the [farmland acquisition] sector could substantially exceed USD 150 billion.
A recent global surge in private investment in farmland is set to continue as investors look to returns from agricultural production and to rising land values, said an OECD executive on Thursday.
The UN Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) said that so far trade and investment deals with partners in the south are merely reinforcing a long-standing trend with the north in which African countries export farm produce, minerals, ores, and crude oil, and import manufactured goods.
"It's not something that is going to take too long, it's not rocket science," Angel Gurria, secretary-general of the OECD, said of the planned guidelines on agriculture.
Dossier spécial du Club de Sahel / l'OCDE de 12 pages sur l'accaparement des terres en Afrique de l'Ouest
This double issue of OECD's magazine includes a 12-page dossier on land grab deals in West Africa
Some compare it to a hold up on land; others say it is a development booster. Experts, politicians and Non governmental organizations disagree on their analysis of what is called “land-grabbing”-or the acquisition of farm lands- a practice on the increase.
Compte rendu de la première journée de la réunion du Groupe d’orientation des politiques (GOP) du Club du Sahel et de l'Afrique de l'Ouest/OCDE
In response to increased commercial interest in West African land, the Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC/OECD) is leading a regional dialogue with key stakeholders in Bamako on 9 December 2009
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