Land Grabbing in Africa - Essay Example

Land grabbing in East Africa causes imbalance between the efforts to build sustainable systems that comprehensively try to resolve land-related tensions and interests, as well as pursuits to economic development (Palmer, 2012). Due to this, Heads of States of Africa and Governments have adopted Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in East Africa. This is to inspire and prompt countries to develop land policies that take into account their particular needs. The presence of continental framework and guidelines and normative instruments like the 11 principles laid out on the Right to Food by the UN Special Rapporteur ensure economic development without weakening the development of any population group.

The World Bank plays a greater role in the land grabbing in East Africa. It refers to the land grabbing as agro-investment and makes room for it by creating seven voluntary principles to make the practice of agro-investment responsible. All the seven principles are supposed to safeguard the East Africa’s land from being grabbed. However, this is just a mirage, for these principles are not adhered to, they are just there as beautifying statements. This, therefore, makes the transactions regarding land negative for both the buyer of the land and the seller.

Wealthy States are the main causes of the increase in rural poverty that drives many people off the land that they have for generations farmed (Pearce, 2012). For example, there are major environmental and agricultural damage along River Niger caused by the International Land Coalition. This is a global network of civil society and farmers’ organization. Forestry and small scale farming that protects food, unique wildlife and heritage is slowly being converted to wastelands that only profit agribusinesses.

Multinational companies in a greater number that vastly exceed the usage by the local communities are using natural resources. As a result, the land’s