Large-scale land deals in Southern Africa: Voices of the people
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies, University of the Western Cape
Abstract
This book of case studies addresses situations in which commercial projects are planned on land held by rural
communities. These include big farming projects by foreign and local companies, farmers becoming out-growers
selling to agribusinesses, and concessions to mining companies.
The dramatic growth in big land deals over the past decade is a phenomenon not specific to Southern Africa. It is part
of what has been termed a ‘global land rush’ following food price spikes, financial crisis and fuel price volatility (and
growing interest in biofuels) in the period 2007-2008. Both domestic and foreign investors are increasingly keen to move
into farming and other commercial ventures in rural areas. This has been presented as welcome development but also
criticised as constituting a ‘land grab’. Our case studies provide some empirical basis to debate these points of view.
Description
Keywords
Land deals, Southern Africa, Rural communities, Global land rush, Agribusinesses
Citation
Hall, R. et al. (2015). Large-scale land deals in Southern Africa: Voices of the people. Cape Town: Institute for Poverty Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) University of the Western Cape.