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Rush for the 'blue gold'. The governance of agricultural investments influencing the socio-ecological system of the Gambella region, Ethiopia

Molnar, Kata LU (2014) MIDM19 20141
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Abstract
This paper presents a case study from the Gambella region of Ethiopia, where large-scale land concessions shape the resource system and necessitate adoption of new institutions. Private investors are free from water charges, and have the right to take over already built irrigation structures such as dams or main canals. The Alwero river in Gambella, located in the Baro-Akobo river basin, is one of the key sources of water for indigenous rural communities who practice fishing, pastoralism and shifting cultivation agriculture. New water users are increasing in number, one of them being Saudi Star Agricultural Development Plc., who is currently developing a rice plantation on 10,000 hectare along the river. There are no environmental controls... (More)
This paper presents a case study from the Gambella region of Ethiopia, where large-scale land concessions shape the resource system and necessitate adoption of new institutions. Private investors are free from water charges, and have the right to take over already built irrigation structures such as dams or main canals. The Alwero river in Gambella, located in the Baro-Akobo river basin, is one of the key sources of water for indigenous rural communities who practice fishing, pastoralism and shifting cultivation agriculture. New water users are increasing in number, one of them being Saudi Star Agricultural Development Plc., who is currently developing a rice plantation on 10,000 hectare along the river. There are no environmental controls or limits established on the company’s water use. Neither are there any mechanisms for monitoring the effects of increasing water use on users, the Duma wetland, and the wildlife. The adoption of a comprehensive land use and river basin plan would be important to avoid the escalation of resource conflicts and for the future development of the region. The analysis looked into how the governance of water and land resource allocation for agricultural investment challenges and influences the complex social and ecological system in Gambella. (Less)
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author
Molnar, Kata LU
supervisor
organization
course
MIDM19 20141
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Land deals, Resource-based conflicts, Water governance, SES Framework, Ethiopia, Gambella region
language
English
id
4589244
date added to LUP
2014-09-09 10:31:01
date last changed
2014-09-10 12:14:39
@misc{4589244,
  abstract     = {{This paper presents a case study from the Gambella region of Ethiopia, where large-scale land concessions shape the resource system and necessitate adoption of new institutions. Private investors are free from water charges, and have the right to take over already built irrigation structures such as dams or main canals. The Alwero river in Gambella, located in the Baro-Akobo river basin, is one of the key sources of water for indigenous rural communities who practice fishing, pastoralism and shifting cultivation agriculture. New water users are increasing in number, one of them being Saudi Star Agricultural Development Plc., who is currently developing a rice plantation on 10,000 hectare along the river. There are no environmental controls or limits established on the company’s water use. Neither are there any mechanisms for monitoring the effects of increasing water use on users, the Duma wetland, and the wildlife. The adoption of a comprehensive land use and river basin plan would be important to avoid the escalation of resource conflicts and for the future development of the region. The analysis looked into how the governance of water and land resource allocation for agricultural investment challenges and influences the complex social and ecological system in Gambella.}},
  author       = {{Molnar, Kata}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Rush for the 'blue gold'. The governance of agricultural investments influencing the socio-ecological system of the Gambella region, Ethiopia}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}