Saudi investors eye Tanzanian farmland

[bm21]

Kujitosheleza kunashindikana kwa sisi wenyewe kushindwa kutumia ardhi nzuri, mabonde na mito kulima na kupata ziada. sasa kuna ubaya gani kama ardhi iliyopo ambayo hatuitumii tukaikodosha kwa watu ambao wana uwezo wa kuitumia vyema, wakafanya umwagiliaji , wakatumia mashine za kisasa kuendeleza kilimo bora na wakavuna chakula kingi kwa ajili yao na pengine kutugaia sisi wenyewe tunaoshindwa kulima? Mpunga Bonde la Mto Rufiji, Mpunga Kilombero, Mpunga hata kule Mwanza pembezoni mwa ziwa unalimika vizuri tu. Tumefikia wapi?

Kuu ni hivi, kufa kufaana. Ningekuwa JK ningewapa mashamba watakayo kwa masharti soko liwe Tanzania. Only supplus ndio iende huko kwao. Nadhani nndio njia pekee yakujihakikishia swala la chakula kama tumeshindwa kucapacitate wazawa kuchukua mashamba hayo

 

[Babylon]

Tunasubiri matamshi ya Polycarp Kardinali Pengo, nini atamueleza RAIS Jakwaya kikwete atakaporudi i safari yake kufuatia SAUDI YA ARABIA kutaka ardhi kwa ajili ya kilimo na yeye JK kulikubali hilo.

 

[PapoKwaPapo]

Kweli kabisaaa..............aridhi yetu hatuitumii lakini ndio tuwape kwa miaka 99?
Hii kwangu hainiingii akilini.............Hii inamaanisha kwamba hata baada ya miaaka 99 tutakuwa hatuna kitu cha kuifanyia.

1.Angalia population ya tz inakuwa kwa kiwango gani?je baada ya hiyo maika 99 watu wetu watakaa wapi?
2.Ndani ya miaka 99 still tutakuwa hatuna hiyo tekinolojia ya kulimia?
Kama itakuwa hivyo basi tuna stshili adhabu kutoka kwa Mungu hata kwa watoto wetu.

 

[PapoKwaPapo]

Hivi huyu Kikwete wetu anashauriwa na nani?
Sidhani kama mutu anayeongelea mkataba wa miaka 99 ninahaja ya kuendele conversation ya huo mkataba, kwangu mi hii ni dharau.

 

[Zungu Pule]

Kuu ni hivi, kufa kufaana. Ningekuwa JK ningewapa mashamba watakayo kwa masharti soko liwe Tanzania. Only supplus ndio iende huko kwao. Nadhani nndio njia pekee yakujihakikishia swala la chakula kama tumeshindwa kucapacitate wazawa kuchukua mashamba hayo

Hawa watu kwa vyovyote watafanya "mechanized agriculture". Uwekezaji utagharimu pesa nyingi. Hivyo, bei ya mazao watakayoyazalisha itapangwa in such a way to guarantee return (well above the average cost). Kwa kuwa gharama za kuzalisha ni kubwa, bei lazima itakuwa kubwa. Je, watanzania wataiweza bei ya hawa jamaa?

Pili, hawa jamaa wanachotaka ni ardhi ya kuzalisha chakula kwa ajili yao. Hilo ndilo hitaji lao na si vinginevyo. Jukumu letu [wenye ardhi] ni kuangalia ni namna tutanufaika na huu mpango i.e. cost-benefit analysis. Tukiona faida ni kubwa kuliko hasara, then tunaukubali mpango. Otherwise, tunakataa. This is how it should work. Tukifanya mahesabu yetu vizuri, I am sure we stand to benefit. Remember, they have oil! They have money! All we need is a good economist to calculate compensation.

 

[Zungu Pule]

Serikali itupe huo mpango wake wa kilimo! Wakulima wanalima mchele lukiki, na wanachi wakula kwa kumwaga! wapi umeenda ukakuta mchele adimu. Bibi yangu anamajariba kibao, akivuja maguni 150 kwa msimu. Hii hadithi hatuwezi kulima inatokea wapi. Ni wimbo wa nani! Wendawazimu huu kabisa.

Hata mimi naweza kwenda kulima, nimelima zaidi ya mara 10 kuchangisha ada yangu ya shule. Nanilivuna, nikale, nikalipa ada, na kufeel proud. Eti leo, raisi alete wakulima wampunga kwamba hatuwezi kuitumia ardhi yet! Nonsense! Atuambie soko liko wapi, hao warabu wanataka nini kwa viwango vipi, kama hatutawe kulima! Na serikali ijitayarishe kufanya processing and packaging.

Ni kama vile unasema tuna ziada ya chakula. ni kweli?

 

[Zungu Pule]

WanaJF, heshima kwenu wote,
Wasiwasi wangu ni pale ambapo mzawa kumilikishwa ardhi yake kwa miaka 99 ni kitu kigumu sana kwa serikali yetu, lakini kwa mtu wa nje inaonekana ni rahisi na hata wanabembelezwa. Hivi wanaJF wenzangu, tufanye nini ili kurekebisha sera yetu ya ardhi na maliasili ya Tanzania kuwanufaisha wazawa kabla ya wageni? Hii binafsi inaniumiza sana. Naomba ushauri wenu

Sina uhakika na ugumu wa mtanzania na urahisi kwa mgeni kumilikishwa ardhi, ila nina swali kwako. Assume wewe ni muwekezaji. Je, utakuwa tayari kuwekeza pesa yako mahali ambapo unajua baada ya miaka 10 au 15 au 20 utanyanganywa? Chukulia pia kuwa katika kipindi cha miaka 15, pengine hata mtaji haujarudi. What do you think?

 

[Paka_Shume]

Waziri kamara anajaribu kulinda ardhi yetu wakenya wasije kuchukua huku Jk anaenda kuwauzia waarabu kwa bling bling za shingoni. What we need to do ni sisi tunaprovide ardhi wao waje na zana na pembejeo,wananchi wetu waajiriwe.Then mavuno yatumike kwa nchi zote mbili.

 

[Mkandara]

Well, naona tumechelewa sana Bush (Kichaka) kesha nunua eneo tayari na watu humu walisifia hatua hiyo.. Zawadi na ahadi alizopewa Kikwete zilikwenda na baraka zote, leo imekuwa Saudia it's heading news!..

Wana JF, Kukodisha nchi yetu ni kosa haihitaji nani aliyekodisha na mara nyingi sana tusikubali kusukumwa na vyombo vya dini ktk maswala ambayo yanaweza kabisa kutugawa...
Ikiwa wawekezaji wanaruhusiwa ku lease ardhi yetu basi iwe sheria kwa kila mtu aliye qualify na sio kundi au taifa fulani tu ndio wanaruhusiwa..Sipendezewi na anayoyafanya Kikwete lakini swala la Saudia kuwekeza ktk kilimo sio la kwanza na yapo mataifa yame lease ardhi tayari kwa kilimo. Hao wazungu wana tofauti gani na huyu mwekezaji toka Saudia au ni jina la nchi au dini yao ndio tatizo haswa! -Tuambiane ukweli.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Mtapewa uchaguzi, aidha wa Kenya waje kutumia ardhi yetu au Wasaudia. Kwa vile watu hawataki Wakenya basi jibu ni Wasaudia! Mkandara kasema principle hapo.. once you pick and choose on the principle then the principle will unpick you!

 

[Mtanganyika]

Jamani tuangalieni Economic aspects za hili swala na sio kujaza laundry ya lawama.
Tanzania ya leo in heka na heka ambazo ni undeveloped, na there is no signs kuonyesha kwamba hizo heka zinaweza kulimwa leo wala kesho. Population growth ya Tanzania ni around 2% hapo, than means kwamba bado tuna ardhi ya kujitosheleza.

Ukweli ni kwamba ni investors wachache sana ambao wako willing kuweza kwenye kilimo ( sector ambayo ina tumikisha more than 70% ya watanzania). Sasa kama hawa Wasaudi wameamua kuwekeza i guess hii ni nice move IF and ONLY IF swala hili litafanywa katika UWAZI( TRANSPARENCY) na KUWASHIRIKISHA WAKAZI WA MAENEO AMBAYO YATATUMIKA.

kusema ya kwamba watuachie ardhi yetu tulime wenyewe mchele is just uongo. Tanzania haina enough tools ambazo zitatuwezesha kuendesha kilimo cha kisasa. Tunachotakiwa ni kujifunza kutokana na makosa, kama sector hii ya kilimo itakuwa na kuongeza changio kwenye ukuaji wa uchumi (GDP) then Tanzania inaweza kutransform kutoka kwenye agro based economy kwenda kwenye uchumi ulio changanyika. I guess this is a nice move kama tuuu tutaifainya kwa maendeleo ya Taifa.

I support JANUARY comment kwamba kama tutaendesha mpango ambao Watanzania nao watafaidika na wawekezaji nao watafaidika then i believe tutaweza kufikia lengo.

Other than that let us wait and see.

 

[Sober]

500,000 acres, the kind of land said to be owned by just one, Kenyatta family in neighbouring Kenya.

Hivi kama kuna mtu ametazama the vast underutilised land from the air, say flying from kigoma to dar or from mtwara to dar. Kuna tatizo gani hasa kwa "kuwakodisha", ambapo serikali bado itakua na uwezo wa kunyanganya ikiona mambo sivyo ndivyo. Maana kama ingekua kama kwa wenzetu Kenya ambapo the Kenyatta's "wanaimiliki" hiyo acre 500,000 for good, ningeona tatizo.

Cha msingi ni kuhakikisha mutual benefit, kwa mfano, wasaudi wanaweza kukodishwa say acre 100,000 halafu wakapewa condition ya kuziendeleza na kuwa soko la acre 400,000 za satellite farms za watanzania wenyeji wa maeneo husika(sio vigogo pekee). As hakuna free lunch duniani, hakuna mtu wa kuja kuwekeza mabilioni, kwa faida yetu sisi tu.

Isije ikawa tunawapigia kelele wasaudia, then sharp minded crook mtanzania mwenzetu, tena mweusi tiii, akachukua yeye hiyo ardhi ya acre 500,000, akaingia deal na wasaudi ya kusupply chakula Saudi Arabia kwa benefit yake na familia yake....tukabaki tunang'aa macho. Mi nafikiri kuna umuhimu wa kuitazama hii proposal kwa mapana zaidi, badala ya kuwa paranoid kwa taifa flani, halafu tukawa blind mweusi mwenzetu akifanya.

Cha msingi, ni kama baadhi walivyosema, huo mkataba uwe na mutual benefit, kwa wawekezaji na watanzania, ikiwemo training on modern agricultural practices kwa watanzania wa satellite farms. Kwa dunia ya sasa, hatuwezi kuchomoka tulipo, kama tukigoma kushirikiana na waliotutangulia. Miaka ile ya Mwalimu, ambapo tofauti ya dunia ilikuwepo si kubwa ya kutisha, labda. Miaka ya '70s daktari bingwa wa muhimbili alikua anaweza kwenda London na kuanza kutibu shortly. Leo hii hataweza, sababu wametupita mbali mno ki vifaa, mbinu na technolojia, kiasi kwamba atabaki anang'aa macho. Hivyo hivyo unaweza kusema kwa mtaalam wa kilimo, Laboratory technologist, electronic engineer etc. Wenzetu wanakimbia at full flight. Tutazame the big picture, moving forward.

 

[Nyauba]

'They can lease the land from the government,' January Makamba, an aide to President Kikwete, said.

“But we have to make sure we don't end up in a situation similar to that of Nigeria: Huge oil reserves but long queues in front of petrol stations,' Makamba said.

huyu january sijamwelewa hapo jamani...how nigeria situation could resemble in tanzania...

 

[Susuviri]

I support kukodisha ardhi kwa wageni, lakini also nasapoti kilichoandikwa humu kwamba it can only be done with transparency.
Pia angalieni sheria yetu ambayo tunafikiri inatulinda sana, inamfanya rais wa nchi ndiyo mwenye nchi na si wananchi.
Mi naomba niseme wazi, Serikali isikodishe (lease ardhi) kwa wananchi wa Tanzania. Ikodishe (lease) kwa wageni tu. Lakini wananchi wawe wamiliki. Then mwanakijiji anapotaka kunyanganywa ardhi kwa sababu kuna mwekezaji anataka kuwekeza na serikali inatumia ubavu kuwanyanganya na kutoa compensation isiyo na maana, basi mwanakijiji ana uwezo wa kusema NO! kama mnataka ardhi yangu , you have to negotiate.
Lakini sasa hivi mwananchi hana haki na ardhi yake, tunajidanganya tu. Na 'mwekezaji' yoyote anaweza kutumia serikali kama dalali kutunyanganya ardhi.

 

[Mombo Wetu]

Yebo Yebo,
Kuna wakati nilikwenda Guatemala ambako Marekani imechukua mashamba makubwa tu ya ndizi, Chiquita, Dole, n.k ambazo unakuta zimejaa kwenye super markets zao. Fikra zangu wakati huo ni kwamba hawa wakulima wa Guatemala must be rich or well to do kwa kuwa wana soko kubwa tu la ndizi Marekani. I was wrong. Kilichotokea ni kwamba hayo mashamba yanamilikiwa na kampuni za Kimarekani ( kama ambavyo Wasaudi watamiliki mashamba tutakayowaruhusu ku lease kwa miaka 99) na Watanzania tutabaki kuwa ma campesino tu au wapagazi wa kuchota maji katika mashamba hayo.Huu si uwekezaji utakaomsaidia Mtanzania kujikwamua na kujiongezea kipato chake. Hatutafaidika na soko la mchele au ngano Saudia kwa sababu wanaomiliki mashamba si Watanzania. Are you getting my drift? Anayetajirika na ndizi za Guatemala si Mguatemala. Ni corporate America. We are going to find ourselves in the same situation.

Kama kunakosa tutakalolitenda ni ku lease ardhi yetu for 99 years inamaana kuipata tena ni generation nzima itakapo ondoka. Ooh my God never let it happen in my beloved country. Umeelezea vizuri sana. Kama nikuwasaidia watanzania hao wafanye contract farming na wakulima watanzania kwamba in exchange of capital watawauzia hao watu wa Saudia kwa makubaliano ya two way benefits na siyo wao kuzalisha badala ya watanzania. Kuna models za contract farming I can even volunteer to study them and provide technical assistance for free only and only if the land wont be given for lease to foreigners.

 

[Mombo Wetu]

500,000 acres, the kind of land said to be owned by just one, Kenyatta family in neighbouring Kenya.

Hivi kama kuna mtu ametazama the vast underutilised land from the air, say flying from kigoma to dar or from mtwara to dar. Kuna tatizo gani hasa kwa "kuwakodisha", ambapo serikali bado itakua na uwezo wa kunyanganya ikiona mambo sivyo ndivyo. Maana kama ingekua kama kwa wenzetu Kenya ambapo the Kenyatta's "wanaimiliki" hiyo acre 500,000 for good, ningeona tatizo.

Cha msingi ni kuhakikisha mutual benefit, kwa mfano, wasaudi wanaweza kukodishwa say acre 100,000 halafu wakapewa condition ya kuziendeleza na kuwa soko la acre 400,000 za satellite farms za watanzania wenyeji wa maeneo husika(sio vigogo pekee). As hakuna free lunch duniani, hakuna mtu wa kuja kuwekeza mabilioni, kwa faida yetu sisi tu.

Isije ikawa tunawapigia kelele wasaudia, then sharp minded crook mtanzania mwenzetu, tena mweusi tiii, akachukua yeye hiyo ardhi ya acre 500,000, akaingia deal na wasaudi ya kusupply chakula Saudi Arabia kwa benefit yake na familia yake....tukabaki tunang'aa macho. Mi nafikiri kuna umuhimu wa kuitazama hii proposal kwa mapana zaidi, badala ya kuwa paranoid kwa taifa flani, halafu tukawa blind mweusi mwenzetu akifanya.

Cha msingi, ni kama baadhi walivyosema, huo mkataba uwe na mutual benefit, kwa wawekezaji na watanzania, ikiwemo training on modern agricultural practices kwa watanzania wa satellite farms. Kwa dunia ya sasa, hatuwezi kuchomoka tulipo, kama tukigoma kushirikiana na waliotutangulia. Miaka ile ya Mwalimu, ambapo tofauti ya dunia ilikuwepo si kubwa ya kutisha, labda. Miaka ya '70s daktari bingwa wa muhimbili alikua anaweza kwenda London na kuanza kutibu shortly. Leo hii hataweza, sababu wametupita mbali mno ki vifaa, mbinu na technolojia, kiasi kwamba atabaki anang'aa macho. Hivyo hivyo unaweza kusema kwa mtaalam wa kilimo, Laboratory technologist, electronic engineer etc. Wenzetu wanakimbia at full flight. Tutazame the big picture, moving forward.

Sijui kama lease equals renting. Angalia vizuri what is being paid for per ha kwa sheria za sasa kama is economocally justified ku lease land for that much longevity. Mpaka tuwe na policy analysis nzuri tena iwe positism na siyo normative ndo tunaweza kugain under free market environment. Any way sijafanya policy analysis vizuri na ku come up with facts as to why we should do this and not that but as far as the situation is bado perception yangu ni kuwa wakulima wetu wanahitaji protectionism ili nao waweze kuhama kutoka peasantry farming kwenda kwenye commercial farming. Other wise hii secto ndo ajira rasmi kwa more than 50% ya watanzania hivyo any mechanization yenye substituional effects si alternative nzuri for the time being. Ona tu sector zingine kama madini zinavyofanyika hakuna re investment and so no job creation kwa sababu ya capital flow nje ya nchi.

 

[ndeanasia]

Hallo Friends and wanajamii,

You know what! for some reason...(s) I am not adverse to any investment in agriculture... and commercial agriculture ....and contract faming ....and organic farming to Boot! Just as long as it addresses the following:
1. land ownership arrangements are clear that it is Tanzanians. land, that the profit sharing is also worked out properly not this kotara business of some investors coming here telling us they are making losses 5 to 10 years in a row!
2. That Capacity of farmers is addressed in terms of training through involvement in the farming ventures and extension work,
3. That a percentage of profits are applied to the farming community where the investments are located to finance various social services such as schools. health facilities and infrastructure including irrigation.
Last but not least women are involved in all these activities as greatest producers of labour only this time paid.

We must admit that we have a lot of arable land that must be used through some kind of green revolution that will ensure food security and surplus for exports. Tanzania is not a country to be begging for food or anything else.

So let us impress upon our leaders that investment in agriculture be welcomed and this time we call the shots not the investors. Meaning we prepare ourselves for the negotiating table better than we have ever done before in all the other deals we are complaining about. There are a lot of market opportunities to take advantage of in horticulture, livestock markets and organic agriculture where we obviously can have a comparative and competitive advantage.

Take care
Ndeanasia

 

[Chuma]

hii ni Move nzuri kuhusu Kilimo ambacho kwa muda kimekufa. Wawekezaji wetu locals nao pia wababaishaji....Angalia kule Mtibwa Sugar kumetokea nini....

Naungana na wadau kuwa 500,000 iwe distributed kwa Maeneo Kadhaa, yasipelekwe tu usambaani kwa Makamba....!!!!(i know haitokuwa Hivyo)

Kuna Mdau kasema Wakenya wamewanyima ardhi wasaudia...mhh...assume ni kweli..lkn wakenya Haohao wamewapa wa QATAR...ardhi kwa jili ya KILIMO.(tafuta google, nafikiri news waliitoa bbc)....pia kukataa kenya sio nasi tukatae...muhimu kila mmoja aangalie vigezo vyake Muhimu....pia kuwanyima Kenya, sio sababu kutowapa wengine..tunawajua wakenya..hawana uwezo kuwashinda wasaudia....Kuna Kauli aliisema JK huko nyuma tunataka SERIOUS INVESTORS....najua anafeli baadhi ya maeneo lkn pale sehemu kama hii amepatia if and only if wasaudia watakuja kweli...!!!

Muhimu ni Kujipanga, kuanzia wataalamu wetu wa SUA hadi wakulima na hio Mikataba iweje...Miaka 99 nafikiri ndio common sehem kubwa ya DUNIA. Wenzetu Dubai wanawaalika watu kuja kunnuna nyumba wanapewa hio lease ya 99 yrs...(japo hio ni tofauti na yetu kias fulani)...

Bado Ardhi ipo ya kutosha, na kama GOT ipo serious..ichukue mahesabu yaliowekwa na mdau hapo juu kuyafanyia kazi...!! Huko nyuma ktk Mradi wa Vitambulisho nilisema na wapo wadau wengi walisema pesa za mradi wa vitambulisho tuwekeze ktk Kilimo...Mradi wa vitambulisho hauna maana kwa sasa.

Tunapomkataa MSAUDIA itabidi tuweke list ya wageni wengine walopewa ardhi tujue wanamiliki ardhi kiasi gani na wamepewa lease ya kiasi gani na wananchi wa kawaida wananufaika vipi eneo husika. ktk Safari zangu kikazi nilifika Endeleni hospitali..hospitali ya Kanisa katoliki ambayo ipo ktk Mbuga ya wanyama. na Wao kwa namna moja au ingine wananufaika na ule mradi wa Loliondo....I know kila jambo lazima liwe na uzuri na ubaya wake....Muhim tupime...

 

[Mombo Wetu]

hii ni Move nzuri kuhusu Kilimo ambacho kwa muda kimekufa. Wawekezaji wetu locals nao pia wababaishaji....Angalia kule Mtibwa Sugar kumetokea nini....

Naungana na wadau kuwa 500,000 iwe distributed kwa Maeneo Kadhaa, yasipelekwe tu usambaani kwa Makamba....!!!!(i know haitokuwa Hivyo)

Kuna Mdau kasema Wakenya wamewanyima ardhi wasaudia...mhh...assume ni kweli..lkn wakenya Haohao wamewapa wa QATAR...ardhi kwa jili ya KILIMO.(tafuta google, nafikiri news waliitoa bbc)....pia kukataa kenya sio nasi tukatae...muhimu kila mmoja aangalie vigezo vyake Muhimu....pia kuwanyima Kenya, sio sababu kutowapa wengine..tunawajua wakenya..hawana uwezo kuwashinda wasaudia....Kuna Kauli aliisema JK huko nyuma tunataka SERIOUS INVESTORS....najua anafeli baadhi ya maeneo lkn pale sehemu kama hii amepatia if and only if wasaudia watakuja kweli...!!!

Muhimu ni Kujipanga, kuanzia wataalamu wetu wa SUA hadi wakulima na hio Mikataba iweje...Miaka 99 nafikiri ndio common sehem kubwa ya DUNIA. Wenzetu Dubai wanawaalika watu kuja kunnuna nyumba wanapewa hio lease ya 99 yrs...(japo hio ni tofauti na yetu kias fulani)...

Bado Ardhi ipo ya kutosha, na kama GOT ipo serious..ichukue mahesabu yaliowekwa na mdau hapo juu kuyafanyia kazi...!! Huko nyuma ktk Mradi wa Vitambulisho nilisema na wapo wadau wengi walisema pesa za mradi wa vitambulisho tuwekeze ktk Kilimo...Mradi wa vitambulisho hauna maana kwa sasa.

Tunapomkataa MSAUDIA itabidi tuweke list ya wageni wengine walopewa ardhi tujue wanamiliki ardhi kiasi gani na wamepewa lease ya kiasi gani na wananchi wa kawaida wananufaika vipi eneo husika. ktk Safari zangu kikazi nilifika Endeleni hospitali..hospitali ya Kanisa katoliki ambayo ipo ktk Mbuga ya wanyama. na Wao kwa namna moja au ingine wananufaika na ule mradi wa Loliondo....I know kila jambo lazima liwe na uzuri na ubaya wake....Muhim tupime...

Kama hiyo ndo dawa ya umaskini basi hatuhitaji kwenda hata huko mbali saudia; makaburu-waafrica walioko Africa kusini na zimbabwe wangeweza kabisa kuondoa umaskini wetu kama walivyofanya kwa ndugu zetu huko mmh? What you see in S. Africa and Zimbabwe is typically of what is going to happen in our country. Tusiwa victimize poor peasants wetu kwa mara ya pili baada ya kuwatosa hata baada ya kujifunga mkanda na kutulipia elimu yetu ili tuweze kuwaondoa katika utumwa wa ufukara uliotokana na ukoloni. Ardhi kutotumiwa ni matoke ya policy mbaya tulizo nazo kwenye kilimo na sasa hivi ni wakati wa kukubali responsibility yetu yakujiendeleza wenyewe na si kwa kutumia ukoloni mamboleo. We can do on our own without Saudia, Europe or America. Yes we can hatuna cha kupoteza kwani kutokana na growing demand ya chakula duniani hata tusipowavutia watakuja na wakija wakiwa wame enda kila mahali na kukosa alternative watatubembeleza kwa faida yetu na ya kwao nasi yao peke yao.

 

[MwanaHabari]

Madagascar leader axes land deal
Madagascar opposition leader Andry Rajoelina (c) parades through Antananarivo on 17 March 2009
Andry Rajoelina had been highly critical of the land deal

Madagascar's new leader has cancelled a controversial deal for a South Korean firm to lease a vast tract of land to grow food crops.

Andry Rajoelina said he was axing the deal because the people should be consulted. Daewoo Logistics has reportedly expressed its frustration.

The plan had helped fuel popular anger against President Marc Ravalomanana, who was forced from office on Tuesday.

Mr Rajoelina has also suspended parliament and held a cabinet meeting.

The BBC's Christina Corbett in the capital Antananarivo says he is trying to legitimise himself ahead of his inauguration as transitional leader on Saturday.

Land rights

After annulling parliament, he set up two transitional bodies to run the country.


FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE

More from BBC World Service

There is no word on the whereabouts of Mr Ravalomanana, who resigned on Tuesday when a group within the army backed his rival.

Correspondents say Malagasy people have deep ties to their land and some had condemned the deal as "neo-colonialism".

Widespread protests had already slowed down progress on the deal, which would have used about half of Madagascar's arable land.

The South Korean industrial giant had sought to produce corn and palm oil on 1.3m hectares (3.2m acres), in one of the biggest deals involving foreign firms seeking to secure African farmland since food prices soared last year.

Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana on 15 March 2009
President Marc Ravalomanana 's whereabouts are currently unknown

"In the constitution, it is stipulated that Madagascar's land is neither for sale nor for rent, so the agreement with Daewoo is cancelled," Mr Rajoelina told reporters.

"We are not against the idea of working with investors, but if we want to sell or rent out land, we have to change the constitution, you have to consult the people. So at this hour the deal is cancelled."

Daewoo's long-term aim was to replace more than half the corn that South Korea, the world's third-largest corn buyer, imports, mainly from the US and South America.

Expressing frustration, Shin Dong-Hyun, who oversees the deal for Daewoo Logistics, told Yonhap news agency: "Already we have invested not a small amount in Madagascar.

"We are just waiting and watching this situation to see whether to retreat."