Land 'grabbing' in the Nile Basin and Land 'grabbing' in the Nile Basin and implications for the regional water security implications for the regional water security

Ana Elisa CascãoAna Elisa CascãoUEA Water Security and ICID seminar UEA Water Security and ICID seminar London, 4 November 2011London, 4 November 2011

Foreign Land Acquisitions in the Nile BasinForeign Land Acquisitions in the Nile Basin

Nile Basin: Land and water available

Huge agricultural potential – ‘breadbasket’ phenomen

Land Acquisitions: not a new reality

2008: Global tipping point in the foreign land acquistions

Land, water and crop dealsLand, water and crop deals

Who are the dealers?

Foreign investors (private and public): Gulf countries, India, China, US and EU - and Egypt

‘National’ investors: agri-business companies, diaspora, etc

National governments: federal and regional level

What is in the contracts?What is in the contracts?

• Long-term land leases (50 to 100 years)• Cheap land: at a price of less than USD 2 per hectare/year• Low taxes• Access to fertile land• Often access to existing infrastructures• Free access to the water resources ((KEY)KEY)

• Long-term land leases (50 to 100 years)• Cheap land: at a price of less than USD 2 per hectare/year• Low taxes• Access to fertile land• Often access to existing infrastructures• Free access to the water resources ((KEY)KEY)

What are the dimensions?What are the dimensions?

Saudi Star/Saudi Star/Al-AmoudiAl-Amoudi

The company: The company: Ethiopia-Saudi joint ventureLocation: Location: Alwero/Abobo, Alwero/Abobo, irrigation potentialirrigation potentialSSize: ize: 140,000 ha140,000 haProduction: Production: Mainly riceMainly riceImpacts? Impacts? Trade-offsTrade-offs

KaruturiKaruturi

The company: world's top 25 agri-businessesLocation: Baro banksSize: 100,000 ha(and further 200,000 ha)Production: Palm oil (20,000), Sugar cane (15,000), 40,000 ( rice and cereals)Impacts? many

GAMBELLA REGION IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA (since 2009): 1 million hectares leased, nearly a quarter of its farmland, to 896 companiesGAMBELLA REGION IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA (since 2009): 1 million hectares leased, nearly a quarter of its farmland, to 896 companies

‘‘Land Grab’ or Development Opportunity?Land Grab’ or Development Opportunity?

Speculative bubble? Or real agricultural Speculative bubble? Or real agricultural expansion in the Nile Basin?expansion in the Nile Basin?

Agricultural expasion upstreamAgricultural expasion upstreamand implications for the regional water security and implications for the regional water security

in the Nilein the Nile

Baro River

Akobo River

Sobat River

Gilo River

White Nile River

Impacts in the regional ‘water security’Impacts in the regional ‘water security’

• Water flow regimes• Environmental impacts (deforestation, soil, sedimentation, etc)• National and Regional Food security • Impacts on water allocations• Balance of power between Nile riparians• Change in the bargaining positions?

Land ‘grabbing’ and Water Security WebLand ‘grabbing’ and Water Security Web

Thanks for your attention!ana.cascao@siwi.org