A new development vocabulary in Africa “veils an attempt to institutionalize land grabs by foreign investors at the expense of local communities and farmers,” says an article on the website of the Oakland Institute.

The article looks at recent progress in Africa to develop guidelines for large-scale land investments and whether these will actually lead to sustainable development on the continent.

Land investments tend to result only in seasonal jobs that provide incomes which can be far less than those of the average smallholder. They take land away from African farmers, produce food that is mostly exported and can lead to conflict.

“Similar to foreign investments in African natural resource sectors, land investments are designed to extract African resources and further increase the development gap between Africa and the rest of the world.”

Instead, the article advocates for African governments to empower their farmers so that they can expand domestic production to ensure food security.

One example that is given comes from work by the World Agroforestry Centre to help farmers in Cameroon organize themselves collectively to strengthen their bargaining power. These farmers have been able to take out small loans to expand their operations and increase their revenue. (Read more).

Read the full story: Is ‘Land Policy’ the Solution to Land Grab in Africa?