10.00.00

Credits

10.00.26

 

10.00.32

« The land belongs to the government and each peasant has a right of usage.  

The last 6/7 years have seen the emergence of large agricultural businesses financed by domestic and foreign investors.» 

10.01.02

 

Addis Abeba, capital of Ethiopia,

In this trading room all the agricultural goods of the country are being bought and sold.

 

Coffee, sesame, corn, wheat, in the last 20 years Ethiopia, country of 80 million people, has tripled its production and is witnessing an economic miracle.

 

A double digit growth boosted by foreign investors rushing into the country to get hold of the land, one of the most fertile in the African continent. 

Ethiopia has become the new grain basket for rich countries.

 

At 700 km west of Addis Abeba, Gambela is one of the greenest and water-richest regions of the country.

Here thousands of hectares have already been allocated to foreign investors.

Leading Indian, Chinese or even Saudi food producers export their production to Asia and to Europe. 

 

2 ethnic groups live on these lands, the Nuers, cattle breeders and the Anuaks, farmers.

A threat is hanging over their head; their territory is being reduced to nothing.

 

The ANUAK community is being surrounded by these large commercial farms.

Ogulu is the leader of the community. He represents the village in front of the public authorities.

 

Farming remains his main activity. He farms without any machine nor irrigation system. 

 

The survival of his community depends on these 2 hectares of corn.

 

10.03.38

« The corn will soon have to be dried outside and put away »

Then we will plant it again because we need reserves.»

10.03.48

 

Each year, Ogulu sells a third of his crop at the market. One ton for 130 $. 

He would like to improve his performance to spare his community from starvation.

 

10.04.10

« Land is essential to our livelihood, the problem is that we don't have modern tools and so we are not very efficient. If the government gave us a little attention and sent two or three tractors per village, the problem would be solved.

But they don't care, the only thing that they care about, is to make us pay taxes, that's the problem.»

10.04.51

 

The priority of the government is elsewhere.

In the offices of the Ministry of agriculture in Addis Abeba, they roll out the red carpets to foreign investors. 

 

The director of investments is talking to a Turkish businessman who is already established in Ethiopia and who is planning to expand his cotton business.

 

10.05.45

« You have a strong agricultural background, so it's an important contribution for us.

We see the opportunity to give you this land as an opportunity to develop new technologies and new management.

Thank you.

Feel free to visit our office whenever you like.

If you need a chair, lets' get you one.

Thank you for your support, I am convinced that we have a great future ahead of us.

Our company that is established in Turkey takes it very seriously.

It's a first step for us.

I hope that in the future, we will grow our agricultural business by producing cotton and why not other foodstuffs.

I am sure that there is significant business to be done here.

Thank you »

10.06.53

 

In 7 years, the Ethiopian state has already allocated 1 million hectares to foreign entrepreneurs. 

Eventually, they plan to give them three times more land, which represent the size of a country like Belgium.

The region of Gambela is at the heart of all business deals. 

 

10.07.38 Synthetizer Esaya Kebede, Ministry of agriculture 10.07.43

 

10.07.11

« The dark green corresponds to the land that has already been allocated to investors. »

« The light green represents the land that is still available for investors, because they are not protected nor occupied by villages or farms. »

« If we aim at development, accumulation of capital, job creation, technological transfer, and exports, we have achieved them all. On the other hand, the infrastructures are bad on these uninhabited lands so we need to work together with investors to grow our economy, increase the profit margin of all investors. It's a win-win strategy.»

10.08.12

 

 

A strategy which appeals to the leading international groups. 

There would be already over 70 foreigners who signed long-term leases at very low rates. 

 

10.08.39 Synthetizer Dessalegn Rahmato, Sociologist 10.08.49

 

10.08.45

« The rent they pay is ridiculously low, from 6,5 $ per hectare and per year to 32 $ per hectare and per year. In other African countries if you rent land, if you invest, the rent will be from 260 to 395 $ per year and per hectare.

In Asia, it costs from 525 $ to 655 $ per hectare. So the price for getting land in Ethiopia is very low.»

10.09.25

 

Ethiopia is now one of the cheapest countries of Africa attracting foreign investors. 6,55 $ per hectare and per year, it is the price negotiated by Ruchi, one of the biggest companies in the Indian agricultural sector. 

The group turned to Ethiopia in order to create new distribution channels.

 

10.09.46

« The area of the farm starts over there and stretches for 17 km on the other side.

It all belongs to the company. 

Let me show you what we've done. »

10.09.55

 

The company rents out 25 000 hectares of totally virgin land. 

Their wealth of these soy beans that produce oils and biofuels. 

 

10.10.05

« It's soy »

« Last year we farmed approximately 20 hectares, this year we farmed around 3000 hectares and next year we plan to double the area up to 6 000 hectares.»

« We don't really depend on the workforce, we are planning to mechanize it all.

Today, we are already using a tractor to plant the seeds. It allows us to plow 1 hectare in 1 hour, and we have 25 hectares so it's going to take 25 hours.»

10.10.47

 

In order to insure production at an industrial level and reap 2 crops a year, the company has dug 24 wells.

It has already brought twenty trucks in from Germany.  

A mechanized agriculture that is always looking for more outlets.

 

10.11.32

« The investors have very few constraints. The contacts are extremely interesting for them. They may farm what they want when they want, they may sell on the global or local market of their choice, in fact very few of them are interested by the local market, they all try to export on the global market.

« Take for example the company called Saudi Star, they have approximately 10 000 hectares and they produce some rice. This rice is exported in the Middle East and elsewhere. The populations around here don't eat rice.»

10.12.21

 

Very little pressure and many advantages.

Tax exemption, access to local credit, everything is done in order to encourage people, and not only foreigners, to buy land. 

Some members of the ethnic group in power take advantage of these lands that are being sold at a very low price, for instance the businessmen established on the high plateau.

This is the case of Baru, he farms approximately 200 ha.

 

10.12.52

«This cotton plant produces flowers for the time being. The flower will change into a grain and this bud will produce cotton. »

10.13.10

 

Hi how are you !

 

To work the land, he uses a local work force.

These young Anuaks come from nearby communities.

 

10.13.38

«These guys are daily labourers, I have others workers who watch the farm.

There are other ones over there on the tractors, these are the only seasonal labourers that we have for now. Later on in the season, we will hire more people. When you farm, you need a lot of people. »

10.14.02

 

10.14.14

« We are working for the country and the country is developing quickly. I am proud to contribute to the development of the region. I am happy to see that the living standards of our employees are getting better.

We are one of the reasons for it.

10.14.31

 

A hundred extra helpers will be hired for each crop.

But the jobs that are paid 40 $ per month consist of very basic tasks.

 

10.14.56

« The advantages for the local populations are very slim, their lands and their natural resources are being taken away from them, because these investors clear the territory, destroy the forest, cut trees.

Even if the government pretends that these investments are aiming at improving these territories by granting them infrastructures and social services, these advantages are not included in the contract, they are left up to the goodwill of investors».

10.15.31

 

These investors, in agreement with the government, are causing population displacement.

 

10.15.43

« Didn't you see what is happening in Gambela? They kick people out of their territory and put them in villages.  

«This is massive displacement. »

10.15.57

 

In order to encourage farmers to free their land, the government has launched a so-called "villagization" campaign. 

Officially, the goal is to improve their living standards by grouping them together in artificial villages.

In Gambela, 28 000 persons have been grouped together this way. 

 

400 Annuaks have been established in this village for 3 years.

Moot is one of these settlers, he was evicted from his land and was forced to join this program.

 

10.16.57

« When investors showed up, we were told to pack up our things and to go to the villages.

If we had decided not to go, they would have destroyed our crops, our houses and our belongings.

We were not allowed to complain because these lands were granted to investors.

We didn't have a choice but to take our chicken and our goats and let the investors take over our land.

We couldn't even claim compensation because the government decided that those lands belonged to the investors, so we were scared! »

10.17.22

 

10.17.32

« If you get upset and if you claim that someone stole your land, you are being put in prison. If you complain about being arrested, they will kill you, we know that it's not our land any more; we have been deprived of our rights. »

10.17.48

 

At the regional office in charge of the villagisation program, they defend the merits of this grouping.

 

10.17.58 Synthetizer Opiew Olero, director of the office for rural development 10.18.06

 

10.17.58

« There is no forced displacement. Our goal is to bring some changes to their lives, from food safety at the scale of the territory to the scale of the families.

For this reason, they must be grouped together.»

« Our population is spread all across the territory. As long as they live that way, we can't give each of them water, nor schools, nor agricultural tools, nor care until they are grouped together. »

10.18.40

 

On top of the food aid that the government gives out to the population, everyone who has joined the program such as Omot received 1ha of land to farm from the public authorities. 

 

10.18.53

« On both sides these lands have been given to the population of the village, on the other side of the road over there, it belongs to investors. »

10.19.04

 

10.19.25

« A farm this size is not enough to live on, I have nothing extra to sell at the market in order to buy school supplies for my kids».

« Sometimes the food aid comes three months late. I don't have enough land to feed my family and my kids.

I don't have a big enough plot of land to grow onions, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes.

10.19.49

 

Arietta made the decision to live in the village. 

Because it is easier for her there to take care of her kids and to educate them.

 

10.20.18

« They grouped us together thinking that they were going to build a school and a medical center at the same place.

Beforehand, we would go from one place to the next researching new fertile lands.

Finally we moved here in order for our kids to have access to medical care and education. »

10.20.41

 

But his hopes for a better life didn't last very long. 

 

10.20.52

« This is the classroom for second level students but the teacher hasn't arrived yet. The school was closed during the holidays. Three teachers are expected back.»

10.21.07

 

While they are waiting for the return of the school teachers, the kids work in the fields belonging to the investors.

 

10.21.21

« If you work there you will make 65 cents in the morning, 1, 30 $ if you stay for the afternoon and if you come back the next day you will make 2,60 $ and then 4 $ if you stay for 3 days.»

10.21.37

 

The clinic is closed as well, because of a shortage of labor

 

10.21.49

« Recently a nurse was appointed. She had no medicine no equipment so she left after one month.»

10.21.57

 

The only promise the authorities kept is access to water.

In the heart of the village, this well where children come for water is a real breakthrough for these families who used to walk several miles to fetch water.

 

Back in Ogulu's community.

Men get ready to launch the canoe that they sculpted out  wood.

 

Despite the pressure of the authorities, Ogulu refused the villagisation program. The community is resisting they don't want to lose their land.

 

10.23.13

« 2 years ago, they pushed us to enter the villagisation program. Some of us chose to join it, but we refused to.

Because we think that if we leave our lands, if we vacate them, one day investors will come and take our place to farm them.

In those villages, there isn't enough land to feed our families, those who went there live less well than we do.

We even have to help them.»

 10.23.44

 

Looking for another livelihood, they have started fishing in a lake which is one hour walk from the village. 

 

10.24.00

« Did you make it here on the boat ?

No problem. The repair held up pretty well !

We will have to put the canoe away over there.

In order to unload the fish nearby the village. »

10.24.17

 

10.24.26

« Be careful, it may tip over.

No, it's heavy enough, it is well balanced.

It would tip if it were too light. »

10.24.36

 

10.25.25

« Gambella enjoys this traditional lifestyle. It is a huge resource, and it's much more important to preserve it than to bring in these investors. I am sure that the profit done by these investors is much less than the advantages that the State could benefit from if it kept its traditions and its environment.»

10.25.48

 

Will the Anuaks and their lifestyle resist the whirlwind of globalization that is sweeping across Ethiopia ?

Africa is threatened by this mad rush to feed the planet.

Will the Ethiopian government be able to take advantage of the development of its agriculture without sacrificing the soils not its populations?

This is a matter of survival for these communities. Land is the only thing they've got.

 

10.26.41

Final credits

10.27.03