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From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Sep 17 2010 - 18:09:26 EDT
<http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/29344> Meles sells 50,000 hectares
of land to India
September 17th, 2010 |
INDIA ( <http://www.deccanchronicle.com/> Deccan Chronicle) - Punjab-based
farmers, who are known for feeding the country, now want to try their hands
offshore, with a group of progressive farmers all set to acquire 50,000
hectares of farm land on lease in Ethiopia for growing high-value cash
crops, including pulses and maize.
"We will be inking a deal with the Ethiopia government next month for
getting at least 50,000 hectares of area for growing crops like pulses and
maize, which will be exported to India and Europe," Confederation of Potato
Seed Farmers President, Mr Sukhjit Singh Bhatti, told PTI here.
Mr Bhatti will lead a delegation of 16 interested potato growers from Punjab
to carry out farming in Ethiopia.
What encouraged these potato growers to try their hand at farming overseas
was land availability at almost throwaway rates, duty free imports of
capital goods and the zero duty on farm exports offered by Ethiopia.
"Unlike here, most of the agricultural land is with the Ethiopian government
and it has offered us to acquire land on lease for a period ranging between
25 to 40 years at a nominal rate, which works out to Rs 400 per acre per
annum in Indian currency. Moreover, we will not have to pay for the first
five years of our operations," he said.
Furthermore, the cropping pattern in Ethiopia is not that intense as it is
in Punjab. "With less pressure on land there (Ethiopia), the soil will be
suitable for growing pulses, maize and other cash crops," he said, adding,
"These crops will be exported to India and Europe."
The Ethiopian government has also assured that it will not levy any duty on
the import of machinery like farm implements and export of agricultural
commodities.
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