(Nov 30, 2011, ADDIS ABABA (IPS/GIN)--Kneeling in the middle of a sugar cane field in blistering 40 degree heat, a young boy is digging up weeds while an Indian worker stands over him to make sure he does not miss any. Red is eight-years-old and earns 73 pence ($1.16) for one day’s work—less than the cost of using pesticides.
By exporting food produced by child labor in Ethiopia, an Indian farm manager hopes to earn millions within three years. “It’s still total wilderness here, but we will soon start growing sugar cane and palm oil and everything will look tidy,” explains Karmjeet Singh Sekhon as he drives in a Toyota 4x4 through the burning bush land on his farm.
The 68-year-old Indian is the manager of a huge farm, which covers an area of 247,105 acres in Western Ethiopia. Soon he wants to farm 741,316 acres, an area bigger than Luxembourg.
Since 2008 there has been an unprecedented rush to secure farmland in Africa, South America and Asia. This is a result of the rise and fluctuation in food prices on world markets, which has seen food riots in a number of countries. Countries such as India, China and the Gulf states want to feed their growing populations, but are also looking to position themselves in the race to produce bio-fuels.
The World Bank says 11.9 million acres of farmland were leased in 2009—up from only 9.8 million a year between 2006 and 2008. It is estimated that by 2030 another 14.8 million acres will be leased annually in developing countries, two-thirds in sub-Saharan Africa and South America.
Maize, rice, wheat, soy, sorghum, sesame, sugar cane and oil seeds are the main commodities. The World Bank sees both opportunities and risks.
“These large land acquisitions can come at a high cost. The veil of secrecy that often surrounds these land deals must be lifted so poor people don’t ultimately pay the heavy price of losing their land,” said former World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
In the world’s thirteenth poorest country, the race for the country’s most productive agricultural land has only just begun and the social and environmental consequences are unforeseeable. According to the UN, 4.5 million people in Ethiopia are currently in need of aid as a result of a devastating drought. The majority of the food aid is imported from abroad.
“No problem,” says farm manager Sekhon. “Some parts of our production remain in the country, and through the export Ethiopia gains hard currency to buy at the world market.” Read more from Final Call »
By exporting food produced by child labor in Ethiopia, an Indian farm manager hopes to earn millions within three years. “It’s still total wilderness here, but we will soon start growing sugar cane and palm oil and everything will look tidy,” explains Karmjeet Singh Sekhon as he drives in a Toyota 4x4 through the burning bush land on his farm.
The 68-year-old Indian is the manager of a huge farm, which covers an area of 247,105 acres in Western Ethiopia. Soon he wants to farm 741,316 acres, an area bigger than Luxembourg.
Since 2008 there has been an unprecedented rush to secure farmland in Africa, South America and Asia. This is a result of the rise and fluctuation in food prices on world markets, which has seen food riots in a number of countries. Countries such as India, China and the Gulf states want to feed their growing populations, but are also looking to position themselves in the race to produce bio-fuels.
The World Bank says 11.9 million acres of farmland were leased in 2009—up from only 9.8 million a year between 2006 and 2008. It is estimated that by 2030 another 14.8 million acres will be leased annually in developing countries, two-thirds in sub-Saharan Africa and South America.
Maize, rice, wheat, soy, sorghum, sesame, sugar cane and oil seeds are the main commodities. The World Bank sees both opportunities and risks.
“These large land acquisitions can come at a high cost. The veil of secrecy that often surrounds these land deals must be lifted so poor people don’t ultimately pay the heavy price of losing their land,” said former World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
In the world’s thirteenth poorest country, the race for the country’s most productive agricultural land has only just begun and the social and environmental consequences are unforeseeable. According to the UN, 4.5 million people in Ethiopia are currently in need of aid as a result of a devastating drought. The majority of the food aid is imported from abroad.
“No problem,” says farm manager Sekhon. “Some parts of our production remain in the country, and through the export Ethiopia gains hard currency to buy at the world market.” Read more from Final Call »
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