Will new African land grab lead to future water conflicts?

China, India and Saudi Arabia have lately leased vast tracts of land in sub-Saharan Africa at knockdown prices. Saudi Arabia has leased land in Sudan to grow wheat and rice, while cutting back on wheat production on home soil and save its water. China and India have leased huge tracts of farmland in Ethiopia. The bottom line is that they are importing "virtual water", since food production accounts for nearly 80 per cent of annual freshwater usage.

The net effect is that populations in nations that import water can grow without restraint since they are not limited by water scarcity at home. Although this could be seen as a good thing, it will lead to greater exploitation of the world's fresh water.

When other nations needed laborers they came to Africa and took its people and made them slaves. When other nations needed Africa’s natural resources the “Africa Scramble” took pace. Now, other nations are beginning to need water. Don’t forget the words of George Santayana: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

It is the hunt for water that is driving emerging economies to lease African land, but it could come back to haunt them.

Read the article from New Scientist at - http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028144.100-african-land-grab-could-lead-to-future-water-conflicts.html

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