Large-Scale Agricultural Development and Land Rights of Pastoralists in Ethiopia: The Case of Bodi People

Sime, Ayele Dubo (2015) Large-Scale Agricultural Development and Land Rights of Pastoralists in Ethiopia: The Case of Bodi People. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

PDF (Large-Scale Agricultural Development and Land Rights of Pastoralists in Ethiopia: The Case of Bodi People) Sime, Ayele Dubo.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (2MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

The Ethiopian State has been involved in large-scale agricultural development projects in the country’s lowland peripheries since the imperial regime with the perception that the land in these areas are barren, unsettled, unused, and hence these backward communities should be improved. One of the development areas where the State involved in is sugar development projects, one of which is the OKSDP. One of the communities affected by the OKSDP is the Bodi people that have practiced pastoral mode of life for centuries. There are two opposing narratives in relation to this massive project. The narrative of the state is that large-scale land acquisition for the OKSDP is an opportunity that injects huge capital and creates new jobs to the pastoralists, and the land alienated is barren and thus no one will be displaced. The State argues that villagization of the Bodi is being carried out with properly handled consultations and voluntarily. The Bodi are brought close to the OKSDP social, agricultural and infrastructural services, which they lacked for centuries. Some others such as rights groups and scholars see the OKSDP as a threat to the pastoralists whose livelihood is heavily dependent upon land and the floods of the Omo River. Rights groups and academics further argue that there is no meaningful consultation with the Bodi; the villagization is carried out involuntarily because it was conducted after the Bodi’s pasture land, water rights, and livelihoods have been taken over by the project; so the Bodi have no option but to comply with. The government has failed to pay monetary compensation as well as adequate social services. However, no empirical studies have been undertaken so far that examine the implication of land alienation from pastoral communities in the Lower Omo Valley. This is particularly the case in relation to the Bodi Pastoral Community. This thesis thus aims to investigate the validity of the above two broad storylines over the OKSDP land alienation in light of theories, concepts, international and national legal instruments concerning indigenous peoples’ rights to land. The investigation seeks to ascertain the point of view of the people affected. The study has employed qualitative research methods to collect data through semi-structured interviews with purposively selected informants and focus group participants. It has been augmented by quantitative data. The key finding of this thesis is that the government has failed to comply with international and national legal instruments while undertaking the OKSDP. In my view, the process of land alienation is a ‘land-grabbing’ due to ill-convinced consultation and villagization processes, failure to pay monetary compensation and in-commensurate land allocation for Bodi’s livestock grazing and crop cultivation. The main recommendations are the State should give effect to pastorals ‘communal landholding’ system and comply with the existing legal instruments recognizing indigenous peoples’ right to land; share benefits of the project in a way that the pastoralists can change their perception towards the project; and overcome reactions/resistance through a legitimate means.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races K Law > K Law (General) S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Tim Khabala
Date Deposited:	24 May 2018 14:01
Last Modified:	24 May 2018 14:01
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/4074

Actions (login required)

View Item