Forum for Social Studies (FSS)        A New Initiative in Ethiopia  

From Serkaddis Motbaynor

Sent -Friday, April 1, 2005 2:00 pm

Subject -BALAGERU - (Ke  Insessotochoo Befeet New Yemotew Leka!)

The authors of a recent DFID report on Poverty and Land Tenure in Ethiopia have noted the "dearth" of documents available on land tenure issues in Ethiopia and recommended that no recommendations be made until all available information and documented researched views had been reviewed and discussed thoroughly by both policy makers and the public.  But like the rest of Ethiopia's general public I am left wondering where this "dearth" of information is.

 Apart from papers from prolific and academic giants such as Dessalegn Rahmato who have advocated much, written reams and struggled hard like David with this Goliath subject and made sure their ideas are disseminated to the public,  we are left to cursory goggle search that yields only a small number of Ethiopians who are contributing valuable insight and perspectives on a very difficult issue. 

Breaking the Land Policy Impasse Daniel

Land and the challenge of feeding the Ethiopian people Siegfried  Pausewang

Disowning the idea of privatizing land ownership Bulcha Demeksa

My personal reflections Abu Moges

Yes, we can talk Belay

Let’s focus on the central issue Bulcha Demeksa

Yes, we can talk Mulat

Can We Talk2 :  To Mulat Serkaddis Motbaynor

Can We Talk: To Contributors Serkaddis Motbaynor

Weha Mewket Endayhon Mulat Demeke

Contribution from Indian Rob

Rural Land Policy and Administration in Ethiopia: Recent Patterns and Problems Belay

Balageru Part Two Serkaddis Motbaynor

Balageru  Serkaddis Motbaynor

PRIVATIZE OR PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF LAND ? TD

Commentary on Development TD

Suggestions  Sisay Assefa

 I believe we need more documents at our disposal to stiffen our sinews for this debate and should not have to search for it from disparate sources. I suggest, due to the overwhelming nature of the subject chosen for this debate perhaps a series of links to relevant literature could be volunteered both by participants and organizers of this fantastic forum. Here is my contribution for those interested in reading before they write. http://www.fig.net/commission7/nairobi_2004/papers/ts_03_1_abebehaile.pdf.

 Public debate is effective and vibrant when preceded by public information.  Like the issue of resettlement, debated previously in this forum, policy level research and development ,  discussions, dialogs and debates on the subject of land policy in Ethiopia has been far removed from common men and women such as myself.  BALEGERU IMA, well, not surprisingly they are even more in the dark about debates concerning their very livelihood!! Even with internet access broadband connection and some semblance of education and credit card, I am having, for example, a great deal of difficulty in getting my hands on Proceedings of papers contributed or presented at the 2nd International Symposium on Development Issues in Ethiopia that convened in Addis Ababa, July 11-13, 2003. When will we see an on-line edition for sale or for free of this symposium's  Volume I: Agriculture, Natural Resource Management & Food Security Issues, Volume II: Human Resources, Institutions, Economic Growth and Development Issues?  The 3rd International Symposium is tentatively scheduled to convene in 2005 in Ethiopia. I hope I get the papers from that before 2008!! if anyone can facilitate access to these documents it would help to nurture and fortify the debate we are holding now. I even dare to dream of the day when older archives can be accessed on the internet like the Amharic "Plannina Limat Magazine" that used be published every three months. The only copies I have seen were in the possession of Library of Congress!!

Here also is another link I wish to contribute. If offers some old information but interesting insight into how little our leaders care about what we think and know and how, people like us, in search of policy and programme information and knowledge about decisions made in our country can only find it OUTSIDE Ethiopia.  We, who cannot speak to our leaders only listen to them, we, who are not allowed to even look at them except with eyes at the back of our heads as they speed by in a whiz of expensive cars and traffic stopping security during their mad dash to the Airport, ( never mind questioning them about policy decisions) we who  must follow the information about our people and decision made for them by others from sources OUTSIDE of the country. Only outside Ethiopia is PUBLIC information put forth in PUBLIC venues and only outside Ethiopia are our decision makers invited and  FORCED to elaborate explain and be accountable for their actions and policies often  by Private interest groups or PUBLICLY ELECTED OFFICIALS in foreign countries.  For surely, our leaders are not accountable to us. When can we look forward to seeing a proper Prime Ministers Question Time  like this in Ethiopia?  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/cgi.../3022502.htm#muscat_highlighter_first_math

Until we learn to make our leaders accountable, until our leaders and learned men learn to feel like they must be so and until there is more information in the public domain, (not propaganda or polemics), by Ethiopians for Ethiopians, about policy issues related to poverty and development in Ethiopia, information that inspires public discussion and the widest possible enthusiastic participation in them, then, those who are concerned in dialogue and learning about the plight of our rural dwelling fellow Ethiopians will have to look elsewhere for information about our condition, past, present and future.  We will have to continue to rely on nameless minstrels and  talented singers like Abonesh Adnew and another Dessalegn, (Dessalegn Melkoo), as well as  the creative genius of our writers like Abraham Wolde. It is only Gizoyay and other singers who are providing information and sensitizing the public about the need for policy dialogue  debate and action! (NEKA NEKA  Kenna Kenna Kora Kora Tsena Tsena.. Balageru..and Hejee Bireree..Balageru)  keeping vital issues in the mind of a population "betrayed by politics, abandoned by the rains" (see singer Joni Mitchell's song Ethiopia) a population totally ignored by or  isolated its intelligentsia and leadership. It is these singers who are effective in keeping us engaged and informed reminding us always about BALAGERU as they" pay homage to the strong willed and morally integrated Ethiopian peasants  with hymnals to their sacrifices and bondage, and pose questions on the unbalanced dynamics between the urban vibes and the rural indigenous values" (quoted from Dessalegn Melku's cassette cover - Balegeru 2 Gash Aleka Birru   written  and produced by Abraham Wolde Esko Sound)

Ye Geberrew Masa Mirto Tettlekliko... Yemayibet Zeben.. Chegeregn Iriko

Yih Ye Innay Balager! Ye sew yemayneka! Tsomoon indayaferss new yemotew leka!

Timig Berewochoon Lamochoon Sayneka Imnetoon Tebiko New Yemotew Leka

Irm New Yalewoon Min biribew inkwa Tsomoon Indayaferss New Yemotew Leka

Ye Lijochin Wedaj Tijochoon Say Neka

Ke Inssesotchoo Befeet New Yemotew Leka

Ttena Fikir Yihoon Hageroo

Bale ZEROO Bale KIBROO Balageru BALE HAGEROO!

From      TD 

Sent       Monday, March 28, 2005 3:14 pm

Subject  Commentary on Development 

I would like to say a few things about some developmental issues :Let me deviate from the traditional issues dealing with development and state the following. As usual regarding population issues and development let me state the obvious: Bringing change in a big country like Ethiopia is very difficult owing to the large size of its population. Development requires money, money,...If the population has a decent purchasing power, it would be an ideal situation to accumulate wealth.  According to Marxists theory all wealth in society are accumulated through exploitation of others and communists would like to replace exploitation by capitalists by that of the state.

While the ideal was good in practice it wasn't able beat capitalism economically and it has led to its demise in the world. Even though I am not well acquainted with left politics in the western world, they do believe to some extent in the redistribution of wealth that has been accumulated through capitalism.

Breaking the Land Policy Impasse Daniel

Land and the challenge of feeding the Ethiopian people Siegfried  Pausewang

Disowning the idea of privatizing land ownership Bulcha Demeksa

My personal reflections Abu Moges

Yes, we can talk Belay

Let’s focus on the central issue Bulcha Demeksa

Yes, we can talk Mulat

Can We Talk2 :  To Mulat Serkaddis Motbaynor

Can We Talk: To Contributors Serkaddis Motbaynor

Weha Mewket Endayhon Mulat Demeke

Contribution from Indian Rob

Rural Land Policy and Administration in Ethiopia: Recent Patterns and Problems Belay

Balageru Part Two Serkaddis Motbaynor

Balageru  Serkaddis Motbaynor

PRIVATIZE OR PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF LAND ? TD

Commentary on Development TD

Suggestions  Sisay Assefa

Ethiopia has no wealth to speak of except that of human capital and natural resources. So I recommend the accumulation of wealth first through a combination of state and individual enterprises to bring about development here is a few wealth accumulated in the hands of a few individuals which is a good start. This should be encouraged and expanded to include a large section of the population which finds itself in subsistence economy. 

Ethiopia is endowed with a large population which has a great potential economically. But because most are located in rural areas, the situation is unsustainable. Land that was used by a relatively small population during Haile Sellasie's time, the same land is used by a almost triple population size now. The situation is unsustainable. The land would become overexploited like that of Tigray who find themselves in dire situations through farming and overexploitation of the land for thousands of years. We must get out of agriculture as much as possible. There has to be a big shift of population from rural areas to small towns and cities of Ethiopia to remedy this. And the best people to bring about this change are the people themselves. The government should encourage entrepreneurship and create ideal conditions for foreign investments to jump start the economy. From which local entrepreneurs could get know-hows. Having a large population, as everybody knows attracts foreign investments. 

While a small country has the advantage of bringing relatively easily changes and is easy to govern, it has the disadvantage of a small market and is largely dependent on export market for its prosperity. Because a country like Ethiopia could have a large internal market, it would be in a better position to protect its sovereignty. It wouldn't be dependent on the whims of other states' foreign markets and conditions that are out of its control. Having a large internal market because of large population size, could help make reciprocal deals to open up each other's market with foreign lands. 

Having a large population gives much weights to the interests of the country in the international arena also. And wouldn't be pawns to the interests of other states easily. 

But having a large population is not always good. It could create instabilities due to poverty and other issues which could be a hindrance to economic development. So there should be a balance between the rate of population growth and developing a big internal market. I leave that to the experts. 

Regarding gender issues, I could say the following. The  more people are economically empowered, the better for the economy. People have the same and different needs (and wants). Females may have different wants and needs and this could create a good market for businesses and this would help the wealth accumulating process and more employment opportunities for others through economic growth. Until recently the fields of Obstetrics and Gynecology (fields in medicine) were neglected and a bit backward (not advanced) because traditionally only the males had purchasing powers and the needs of men were mostly met. The cosmetic industry today is a multi-billion dollar industry in the world. (Excuse me females). 

Generally the more individuals are economically empowered, the better for society. Many problems would be solved. But this profit chasing should take into consideration the environment. That's all I have to say for now.

From Sisay Assefa

Sent       Friday, March 25, 2005 8:13 pm

Subject  Suggestions 

I commend on you for bringing out a forum to debate on "Land and Challenge of Development". It is also good that you are setting a multi-disciplinary forum involving various scholars of social sciences. While land may be an "economic issue" at the core (i.e. it is a scarce resource that must have value). It is also has an important socio-cultural, ethical and political dimensions, which can sometimes be in conflict.  The final outcome of this dialogue, if conducted well, is likely to lead some light on constructive land policy for Ethiopia.Although I agree with your view that the land debate has 'become bogged down on one element of the subject, namely private versus public ownership..." What are the arguments for privatizing land versus retaining it as a public or state owned? Let us simply review them.  I think listing the  arguments on both sides, without necessarily pre-judging them, will be useful start.

Breaking the Land Policy Impasse Daniel

Land and the challenge of feeding the Ethiopian people Siegfried  Pausewang

Disowning the idea of privatizing land ownership Bulcha Demeksa

My personal reflections Abu Moges

Yes, we can talk Belay

Let’s focus on the central issue Bulcha Demeksa

Yes, we can talk Mulat

Can We Talk2 :  To Mulat Serkaddis Motbaynor

Can We Talk: To Contributors Serkaddis Motbaynor

Weha Mewket Endayhon Mulat Demeke

Contribution from Indian Rob

Rural Land Policy and Administration in Ethiopia: Recent Patterns and Problems Belay

Balageru Part Two Serkaddis Motbaynor

Balageru  Serkaddis Motbaynor

PRIVATIZE OR PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF LAND ? TD

Commentary on Development TD

Suggestions  Sisay Assefa

We can then evaluate both sides based on their empirical validity (where available) and most important from the farmers perspective, minimizing the passionate political driven arguments on both sides of the land issue. In other words, what I am saying is, since this is a "debate" let us first list the arguments on both sides and examine  the implications of both sides for rural/agricultural development, equity, food security, efficiency and equity in land use, and impact on  natural resource degradation, and poverty reduction in general. We should also provide both comparative and historical experience in this process.  As all debates, I can think of at least three outcomes: 1. Privatization argument may win, 2. Retaining land under state ownership may win, 3. A consensus may emerge. The FSS can then take the outcome (or the solution?-based on a vote at the end of the debate if necessary) and present it to the Policy Makers for their consideration and further public debate if necessary to adopt or to guide land reform.

( I realize that if the outcome is 2, nothing may need to be done? but we must at least list the policy consequences of this outcome, and we shall do so for any outcome that prevails.)

I think what you are doing would be more valuable or useful than some of the studies that with a questionable empirical and data base.