By Lorenzo Cotula
During the last few years, large-scale land acquisitions in Africa have stoked controversy, making headlines in media stories the world over. Land that just a few minutes in the past appeared of little open air curiosity is now being sought by means of foreign traders to the song of thousands of hectares. Private-sector expectancies of upper international nutrition and commodity costs and govt matters approximately longer-term nationwide foodstuff and effort safety have either made land a extra appealing asset. Dubbed ‘land grabs’ within the media, large-scale land acquisitions became some of the most referred to and contentious subject matters among these learning, operating in or writing approximately Africa. a few commentators have welcomed this development as a bearer of latest livelihood possibilities. Others have countered via pointing to damaging social affects, together with lack of neighborhood land rights, threats to neighborhood foodstuff safeguard and the chance that large-scale investments may possibly marginalize family members farming. Lorenzo Cotula, a number one professional within the box, casts a serious eye over the main trustworthy facts in this hotly contested subject, reading the results of land bargains in Africa either for its humans and for global agriculture and nutrients safeguard.
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Additional resources for The Great African Land Grab? (African Arguments)
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