The Impact of Large Scale Farming in Tanzania
Africa Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN) share a perspective on large scale farming from rural communities in Tanzania.
AEFJN's latest video documentary (see below) reports from southern Tanzania and the development of the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT). The video examines how investors shifted their investments from real estate to agribusiness and acquiring farmland, following the financial and food crisis of 2008.
According to the SAGCOT website, the corridor covers in the region of 'one-third of mainland Tanzania'. The website also states that the land area in question stretches 'north and south of the central rail, road and power backbone that runs from Dar es Salaam to the northern areas of Zambia and Malawi'.
AEFJN claims that SAGCOT is 'putting pressure on local land rights and food systems'. It adds that the purpose of this documentary is to discuss 'the human rights issues raised by large scale land acquisitions for plantation and agriculture in Tanzania'.
AEFJN was founded in 1988 with the aim of promoting economic justice between the European Union and sub-Saharan Africa. The OLA Sisters are one of almost fifty Catholic Religious or Missionary Institutes present in Africa and Europe who are AEFJN members.
The AEFJN International Secretariat in Brussels (Belgium) coordinates the 'Antennae' (national AEFJN groups) across many European countries.
Fr. Gervase Taratara, CSSP is the current AEFJN Executive Secretary and Sr. Denise Bang’na, OLA is a member of the AEFJN Executive.
The OLA Sisters have had a presence in northern Tanzania since 1991 and currently have mission areas in Mwanza, Bugisi and Mwamapalala.
