Much coveted investment or unwelcome land grabbing?

Two views on the rubber boom in Laos

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in land can bring economic growth, but can also adversely affect the income and food security of the local population. Using rubber production in Laos as an example, the article shows how both concessions and contract agriculture can lead to land grabbing by foreign investors. Securing the traditional land rights of farmers, registering the concessions, and involving the local population in the apportionment of new concessions are prerequisites for achieving positive development outcomes with FDI.


Dr Babette Wehrmann
Freelance consultant
Munich, Germany
babette.wehrmann@land-net.de

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