Rising Global Interest in Farmland: Can It Yield Sustainable and Equitable Benefits?

by Klaus Deininger, Derek Byerlee, World Bank Staff (Contribution by)

Overview

This book aims to provide key pieces of information needed for informed debate about large-scale land acquisition by drawing on the experience from past land expansions, discussing predictions for potential future demand, and providing empirical evidence of what is happening on the ground in the countries most affected by the recent increase in demand for land. It complements demand side considerations with a detailed assessment of the amount of land, whether currently cultivated or not, that might potentially be available for agricultural cultivation at the global and country levels. It then describes in some detail the policies in place to manage land acquisition processes and analyzes how these policies may affect outcomes. This information can help governments in land abundant countries to assess how best to integrate increased demand for land into their rural development strategies and provide opportunities and benefits to all involved, including existing smallholders. This is particularly important as many of these countries also have high yield gaps. It also highlights how, in cases where land acquisition by large investors makes sense from a social, economic, and environmental perspective, governments can create an environment that can help to attract outside investment that contributes to broad-based growth and poverty reduction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780821385920
Publisher:	World Bank Publications
Publication date:	01/10/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	214
File size:	4 MB

Table of Contents

Preface xiii

About the Authors xvii

Acknowledgments xxi

Abbreviations xxiii

Overview xxv

Introduction 1

Notes 7

References 7

1 Land Expansion: Drivers, Underlying Factors, and Key Effects 9

Past and Likely Future Patterns of Commodity Demand and Land Expansion 10

Future Demand for Agricultural Commodities and Land 13

Lessons from Past Processes of Land Expansion: Regional Perspectives 16

Factors Affecting the Organization of Agricultural Production 28

Can Large-Scale Investment Create Benefits for Local Populations? 34

Conclusion 41

Notes 43

References 44

2 Is the Recent "Land Rush" Different? 49

Evidence from Media Reports 50

Evidence from Country Inventories 56

Evidence from Project Case Studies 64

Conclusion 70

Notes 72

References 73

3 The Scope for and Desirability of Land Expansion 75

Methodology and Potential Availability of Land for Rainfed Crop Production 77

Adopting a Commodity Perspective 83

Toward a Country Typology 86

Conclusion 92

Notes 93

References 94

4 The Policy, Legal, and Institutional Framework 95

Respect for Existing Property Rights to Land and Associated Natural Resources 98

Voluntary and Welfare-Enhancing Nature of Land Transfers 104

Economic Viability and Food Security 109

Impartial, Open, and Cost-Effective Mechanisms to Implement Investments 114

Environmental and Social Sustainability 119

Conclusion 125

Notes 126

References 127

5 Moving from Challenge to Opportunity 129

Key Areas for Action by Governments 130

Investors 133

Civil Society 137

International Organizations 138

Conclusion: The Need for an Evidence-Based Multistakeholder Approach 141

Notes 143

References 144

Appendix 1 Methodology of and Issues Encountered in Collecting Inventory Data 145

Cambodia 145

Democratic Republic of Congo 146

Ethiopia 146

Indonesia 147

Liberia 147

Lao People's Democratic Republic 148

Mozambique 148

Nigeria 149

Pakistan 149

Paraguay 150

Peru 150

Sudan 151

Ukraine 151

Zambia 152

Notes 152

References 153

Appendix 2 Tables 155

Appendix 3 Figures 181

Appendix 4 Maps 187

Contributors 195

Index 199