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Ethiopia: Flowers for Europe

March 2, 2015

Many of the roses sold in Europe come from Ethiopia. That's good business for the companies that invest there. But investors don't give much consideration to the local communities. The result: environmental damage and the displacement of smallholder farmers.

https://p.dw.com/p/1Ek2j

In Ethiopia, land belongs to the government, and is very inexpensive. At just five euros per hectare annually, it's a good investement. Many farmers are being pressured into ceding their land, but the compensation is often not enough for them to survive on.