Pakistan is trying to quickly complete a land sale to foreign investors from Saudi Arabia. Reuters reported September 15th, that a Saudi investor has set up talks with Pakistan for later this month to acquire land twice the size of Hong Kong.

Saudi Arabia is acquiring foreign land to ease their food security concerns, especially after a recent report revealing that Saudi wheat production will come to a halt by 2016. Farmland Forecast recently published an article on Saudi Arabia's wheat production: http://farmlandforecast.colvin-co.com/2009/09/16/saudi-arabias-wheat-production-will-end-by-2016.aspx.

Problems

Transactions dealing with farmland and foreign investors are often referred to as "land grabs" because land is literally being grabbed up by outsiders. Saudi Arabia is trying to grab Pakistan's land for crop production, while Pakistan would see monetary benefits.

Some would say that Pakistan needs their fertile land for themselves. Recently, eighteen women and children died in a stampede after a businessman was handing out flour on a street in Pakistan. Obviously, access to food is not always easy in some parts of Pakistan.

According to Robert Schubert's article, "Food and Water Watch," land grabs can harm local communities by dislodging small hold farmers, aggravating rural poverty, and food insecurity.

Solution

Land grabbing is a controversial issue. Each sale or lease of farmland to foreign investors is different, and some may include mutual benefits. On the other hand, some sellers are taken advantage of during land grabs. In Pakistan's case, there is already some concern by the public about the upcoming talks between Pakistan and Saudi investors. Earlier this year, public outrage over a Madagascar land sale to Korean investors ultimately lead to the overthrow of the government of Madagascar. There is a possibility that if there is enough public anger, land grabs can be altered, or even stopped.

- Colvin