Oxfam warns of land-grab by multi-nationals in Colombia

[Judi Lynn]

Oxfam warns of land-grab by multi-nationals in Colombia
Thursday, 24 November 2011 13:31
Toni Peters

Colombia's land is being stockpiled by multinational companies, which could lead to greater rural poverty, claims NGO Oxfam.

A report by British non-governmental organization Oxfam describes the aggressive land acquisition taking place in the world's poorer countries as a "modern-day land rush."

Head report writer Asier Hernando told Caracol Radio, "Colombia is one of the countries in the world with the most inequality in the access to land. There are few countries more unequal than Colombia, and this leads to massive rural poverty, contributes to conflict and limits the country's development."

Instead of being used to grow food for Colombians, land is being bought up by multinationals for investment or speculation purposes, or increasingly for growing bio-fuels. Colombian land acquisition for bio-fuel production has been increasing since 2001 and is becoming an acute problem, according to Oxfam.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/20672-colombia-has-high-land-inequality-ngo.html