AEGIS Conference of African Studies 2011 - Uppsala [Land grabbing in Gambella: is there land and water available for all?]

‘ Land Grabbing’ in Gambella: Is there Land and Water Available for All? Ana Elisa Cascão / Gonçalo Mota Center of African Studies – IUL [ISCTE/IUL] Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)

GAMBELLA – History of resource-based conflicts ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Gambella region

GAMBELLA – The environment ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Baro River Akobo River Sobat River Gilo River White Nile River

Marginalisation despite resources ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

The myth of the ‘virgin land’ Alwero project Cotton fields Villagisation Mengistu (1980s): ‘ we will resettle 1.5 million people in the virgin lands of southern Ethiopia’ Meles Zenawi (2011): “ We do not want to admire the virgin beauty of our land while we starve”

2000s: new race to the ‘virgin lands’ of Gambella? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

2008: The global ‘tipping point’ ,[object Object],[object Object],Public ownership of land as a ‘trojan horse’ of PM Meles Zenawi (despite liberal trends or customary land rights) ‘ Land as an economic asset’ (commercial, diplomatic relations, foreign currency)

Solution: Leasing contracts ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Two main agri-business projects Saudi Star/ Al-Amoudi Location: Alwero/Abobo, irrigation potential Size: 10,000 ha Production: Mainly rice Impacts? Trade-offs Karuturi The company: world's top 25 agri-businesses Location: Baro banks Size: 100,000 ha(and further 200,000 ha) Production: Palm oil (20,000), Sugar cane (15,000), 40,000 ( rice and cereals) Impacts? many

‘ Land Grab’ or Development Opportunity?

Water for all? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

AEGIS Conference of African Studies 2011 - Uppsala [Land grabbing in Gambella: is there land and water available for all?]

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AEGIS Conference of African Studies 2011 - Uppsala [Land grabbing in Gambella: is there land and water available for all?]