Land Grabbing and Smallholders in Ethiopia

Abstract

Land grabbing is global issue affecting smallholder farmer’s livelihood. With the objective of evaluating the impact of large scale agricultural Investments on the livelihoods of rural communities, this paper uses literatures on land grabbing supplemented by data from FAOstat and tries to identify the root causes of land grabbing and driving forces behind the agricultural investment in the country. It tries to assess the problems created due to introduction of large scale agricultural investment by foreign companies and its consequences on local communities. The remedial measures that should be used by the government to tackle the problems created due to high demand for agricultural land acquisitions were discussed for alternative policy option.

Keywords: Land grabbing, Agricultural investment, Smallholders

DOI: 10.7176/JPID/56-02

Publication date: November 30^th 2020