International Peasant Conference: Stop the Land Grab

From the 17th to the 19th of November in Sélingué, Mali, the farmers of the National Coordination of Farming Organizations (CNOP) in Mali and the international farmers’ movement Via Campesina, held an international conference on land grabbing and to strengthen their continued fight against land grabs on the African continent. We interviewed Elizabeth Mpofu from Zimbabwe who was at the conference in Mali.

Listen to this weeks AP headlines and the interview with Elizabeth here
0:00 to 14:30 -- Headlines
14:31 to 30:41 -- Interview with Elizabeth

For more information on the conference and Via Campesina, visit their website

Land Grabs in Africa

Multinational corporations are buying enormous tracts of land in Africa to the detriment of local communities. These land grabs puts countries on the path to increased food insecurity, environmental degradation, increased reliance on aid and marginalisation of farming and pastoralist communities. This has resulted in the sale of enormous portions of land throughout Africa. In 2009 alone, nearly 60 million hectares of land were purchased or leased throughout the continent for the production and export of food, cut flowers and agrofuel crops. Recently the Oakland Institute has published several documents on these land grabs and their consequences, based on extensive research. The Oakland Institute is a is an independent policy think tank, bringing fresh ideas and bold action to the most pressing social, economic, and environmental issues of our time. Joining us on the line is Frederic Mousseau, policy director at the Oakland institute where he coordinates Understanding Land Investment Deals in Africa project.

Listen to this week's headlines here

Listen to Land Grabs interview with the Oakland Institute here

For more information on the Understanding Land Investments Deals in Africa project and the Oakland Institute, check out their website