From: mukta srivastava <muktaliberated@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Subject: [initiative-india] Please see the news attached and my reaction to it below..
To: annaadhikarabhiyanmaharashtra@googlegroups.com
Dear all .
Please see the latest report in the Economic times today (attached). Food security: Government Mulls Private Purchase of farm Land Abroad
Abroad … where obviously Africa….where else will India colonize people…
Below is My reaction on the article…
Mukta
India's double colonization: Land Grab, Kill Agriculture in India, then Land grab in Africa for Agriculture and Food Security
While we are fighting against US colonization in India as well as Internal colonization of farm Land Grab in the name of SEZ, Delhi Mumbai Industrial; corridor etc., our own government is supporting colonization of rich farm lands in Africa. (pls read the economic times report attached) . .. " Beyond Boundaries.. Agricultural Ministry has to extend support to India inc's acquisition of farm land" the chairman of working group on agriculture production has already recommended that Indian companies could be encouraged to buy land abroad.
This is not a new trend ..you all may be aware that the Indian Company Karuturi Global, signed an agreement with Ethiopia to lease 100,000 hectares of land in Gambela, with an option for an additional 200,000 hectares. The nine page document, available on the Internet, fixes the rent Karuturi pays at throw away price of 20 Ethiopian Birrs (0,90 Euro or rupees 6000 approx.) per hectare, per year for fifty years. That's standard for this kind of contract. In factthe company has land bank of 311,700 ha of agricultural land — or eight times the size of Mumbai.
In Gambela, which some have renamed "Karuturiland", the land used by the Indian group extends as far as the eye can see. Karuturi plans to cultivate rice, corn, sugarcane and palm oil. The land is incredibily fertile, with availability of water and sun.
The villagers are already struggling to find wood to cover their traditional boxes decorated with beautiful geometric patterns; some plan to use corrugated metal as a replacement.
Its sparse population (307,000 people on 30,000 km2) is mainly composed of Anuaks and of Nuer, of Nilotic origin with hardly any voice in their own country. When they protested against this land grab many were killed by army which is blatantly denied by them. Massive deforestation is also going to take place here not only by Indian companies but also from other countries that have grabbed land there.
Similarly , Ruchi Group, an Indian company that rents 25000 hectares on the other side of the canal its first harvest of soybeans, a legume foreign to this land. Ruchi Group plans to open a soybean oil manufacturing plant in the town of Gambela where there is currently no industry. ( see domeian-B.com)
As in India there also companies claim to get local proper jobs but the fact is there is going to be very few jobs for the indigenous people ( tribal) .
Be it Ethiopia or India the gory Saga of the vulnerable groups are the same. The land grab by Indian Companies supported by the Government is no different than here.
The Government indeed is not interested in Food Sovereignty but only food security at the cost of African people who already are struggling to survive.
The recent report in economics Times further strengthens the fact that India is going to be a Coloniser of Africa in big way.
Therefore, if we really want to struggle and fight against land grab, and want to make out country food sovereign we must join hands with Ethiopia and other African country to fight jointly or at least show solidarity.
India and Ethopia Ki ladai EK Hai!! Ek Hai!!...
By
Mukta Srivastava
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