Financial Times FT.com

Africa almost giving land away, says UN

ByJavier Blas in London

Published: May 24 2009 22:05 | Last updated: May 24 2009 22:05

African countries are giving away vast tracts of farmland to other countries and investors almost for free, with the only benefits consisting of vague promises of jobs and infrastructure, according to a report published on Monday.

“Most of the land deals documented by this study involved no or minimal land fees,” it says. Although the deals promise jobs and infrastructure development, it warns that “these commitments tend to lack teeth” on the contracts.

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