| Abstract: | Abstract
The global food crisis of 2007/8 and fuel crisis of 2007/9 led many, including the
Gulf States and several East Asian countries, to re-evaluate their strategies and
secure land and water elsewhere, essentially to produce food and fuel and to
supply their growing populations. Consequently, in Ethiopia, more than three
million hectares of land has been leased to investors for large scale commercial
farming, out of which, the total land area of 524,202.58 hectare hasbeen
distributed to both local and foreign investors in Gambella Regional State. Hence,
the main purpose of the study was to assess the nature of large scale commercial
farming in Gambella Regional State with respect to the processes adopted, and its
environmental implications. In spite of the fact thatthe contribution of large scale
commercial farming is undeniably significant to the local and national economy,
the procedure pursuedin allocating land to investors has not been environmentally
friendly. Though local communities' tie with their natural environment is very
strong, the establishment of large scale commercial farming in the region is
disconnecting the environment from its dependants, therural population, and
putting the sustainability of the environment in question unless it is managed with
immediate interventions of the concerned bodies. |
