Fears for the world's poor countries as the rich grab land

@"Some of the largest deals include South Korea's acquisition of 700 000ha in Sudan, and Saudi Arabia's purchase of 500 000ha in Tanzania. The Democratic Republic of the Congo expects to shortly conclude eight million hectare deal with a group of South African businesses to grow maize and soya beans as well as poultry and dairy farming."

So, South Africa is among the 'rich' countries buying up land in 'poor' countries. One would not guess that from the Headline the Editor saw fit to attach to this story. Which South African countries are involved and under what terms will they operate in Congo?


@"Other countries that have acquired land in the last year include the Gulf states, Sweden, China and Libya."

The Gulf States always bear watching especially where land ownership is an issue. Sweden's investment is in Russia which makes some geographical sense and the Swedes have a history of eco-consciousness that may be a factor in their deals. However, the latter two "rich countries" --Libya and China---should be of particular interest to Africa given the ambitions of Libya's leader to rule Africa and the support for Zim and Sudan from China that has resulted in disaster for Sudan and the plundering of Zim's mineral assets.
At the very least, the terms of the 'deals' being made with new 'host countries' should be made public.

BTW: What idiot would 'sell' land to a foreign power, any foreign power? Surely it makes far more sense for poor countries to negotiate long-term LEASES rather than lose the rights to their national land assets forever?

And what about a quid pro quo? Why would a government risk environmental degradation of its land mass through over-farming and leave the people of the host country to starve???? Surely the terms of the deal must provide food at an affordable price for the locals as well as agricultural jobs? But then again, the Chinese are setting up farms in Sudan where the workers are imported--from China. Don't the Chinese have confidence in their African 'brothers'?

As written, this story is an alarming 'Doomsday Chronicle'. There MUST BE PROTECTIONS FOR THE HOST POPULATIONS AND ECO-PROTECTIONS WRITTEN IN TO THESE AGREEMENTS. Surely, international law must address these issues?

I wondered when you were getting round to noticing that. Let alone working out what Africa looks like ranting about the "West" and "Neo-colonialism" as the South Koreas and Saudi Arabians buy up their farmland. PS Some of the contracts appear to suggest that if there was a famine in Africa, then the crops from these farms would be exported out of the starving African Countries and to the Middle and Far East, (exporting food FROM a famine hit country) and then the would sell it back as AID to the original starving Africna country it came from. Who said African politicians were a bunch of currupt incompetents?

IZWE LETHU !!! This has been the Pan-Africanist slogan for decades. Now we see what happens when land is commodified and exposed to globalisation instead of being socialised.
Roll on, the peoples'struggle for the land which is the source of their life.

Believe me, these new colonists have no intention of doing anything positive for the inhabitants. The citizens should also not expect any help from their (very corrupt) governments. The politicians are pocketing the spoils and are gleefully selling off their countries. There will never be honour among these thieves and again the ordinary people suffer. Africa chased away the only people who loved the continent as much as they do. They chased away the only Africans (albeit white) who knew how to make the continent safe and feed the people. Enjoy your new masters. They are going to do what the Europeans never did; enslave you in your own countries.

M&G really needs a more honest headline editor / writer.

I love the way you refer to "rich countries" trying to create an impression of it being the likes of the USA; UK etc. In fact if you take out Sweden who is investing in Russia, the rest are Asian countries. If it was the USA your headline would almost certainly have read "Fears for the world's poor countries as the USA grab land". Be honest, say "Fears for the world's poor countries as the oil states and China grab land."

A couple of days ago your headline talked about "African capitalists" - which turned out to be an article predominantly about "African nationalists" - not the same thing.

Play fair!

@ Delia- Basic greed and corrupt African politicians accounts for the arguments you correctly presented as potential safeguards for such deals. The nature of power mad money hungry corrupt politicians explains and justifies the rest.

No surprises if and when most of the confiscated farms in Zimbabwe end up in Chinese hands.