Once upon a time...this is no fairy tale

I've decided to continue talking about agribusiness in Tanzania by sharing a story, a true story. I have researched all information on websites from the corporations, news sources (including a biofuels newsletter).  There is an entire report apparently, that Dan Rather did on this particular transaction which I was not able to watch, there are several pieces on youtube from his report. I can't download it here, videos take forever.  I start the story:

AgriSol Energy is one of these agricultural investment companies. I am putting this piece in 2 posts, one tomorrow, due to the convoluted relationships of people involved.

From the AgriSol Energy website, about the great stuff planned:

"Tanzania has 43 million hectares of arable land, of which only about 10 million hectares, or 23 percent, is currently being farmed, leaving more than 30 million hectares available to produce food for the people of Tanzania and, eventually, the rest of Africa.

Our programs will support and encourage small farmers and outgrowers, whose crops can be combined with ours, to produce value-added products including animal feed, cooking oil and meat. In this way, they can share in the benefit of the value-added products we produce.

Jobs will be developed in numerous places:

• On our large-scale commercial farms;
• On the small farms and with the outgrowers as they expand their operations;
• In the markets that will be developed for selling our crops, and those of others, as well as value-added products;
• In the infrastructure development that will take place on our farm and in the surrounding areas and communities – roads, electricity, wells, storage, etc.– and which will also have to be maintained;
• In the various suppliers of goods and services that will be needed to support our commercial operations and the surrounding, growing agricultural zone; and
• In the community centers, medical clinics and schools that will be developed in local communities.

AgriSol Energy has a close affiliation with Summit Farms in Alden, Iowa, which has a very successful integrated crop and protein production operation. Summit Farms' founder and CEO, Bruce Rastetter, is one of the founders of AgriSol Energy and has a long track record as an entrepreneur building agricultural businesses, as well as being a leader in sustainable development and education.

Our programs will support and encourage small farmers and outgrowers, whose crops can be combined with ours, to produce value-added products including animal feed, cooking oil and meat. In this way, they can share in the benefit of the value-added products we produce."


Reread that list of jobs they will develop, all low paid worker jobs doing the work for them on their farm. On the small farms "selling our crops"  "infrastructure development that will take place on our farm".  Well with that much acreage, they will need to build roads and "infrastructure" to maintain the farm. 

There is also that issue of water. This is close to the Serengeti, pretty dry there. And that reminds me of an article in the news today, that small farms near a river, down river, from paint manufacturers, paper plants, etc. the article title was something to the effect of are farmers growing toxic crops.