This study sought to address some of these issues by focusing, for the first
time, on river-based resettlement. It used GIS tools to conduct a nationwide survey
of landforms and drainage systems as well as assess population densities,
accessibility, and type of soil cover. It identified low population density Weredas
with large expanses of unused or little used areas that are potentially suitable for
irrigation-based resettlement. Some of the selected Weredas are being targeted
by the government for a controversial land-lease program (also referred to “landgrab”)
in which foreign agribusiness companies are given extended lease rights
for pennies per hectare (Cotula, et al. 2009; Guardian nd). “Ethiopia, Madagascar
and Sudan are the three countries with the highest number of individual land deals,
which cover approximately 2.8–3 [million] ha” (GLP Report 2010: 14).
The study does not, however, address other challenges such as flash-floods
which have killed hundreds as recently as 2006 (Samson 2008; EEWS 2007),
and have forced out tens of thousands of people including some in the Weredas
selected in this study. Moreover, we have not assessed the potential impacts of
water mismanagement and the accelerated loss of wetlands which according to