Why do we need foreign farm lands? It's a losing proposition

Recently, few GCC countries began purchasing farm lands in foreign countries to secure food imports and reduce cost of food (thus lower inflation). Qatar is buying 40,000 hectares of farm land in Kenya, while UAE and Saudi Arabia reportedly bought farm lands in Pakistan and Sudan for the same purpose. While I understand the rationale of our governments, the mechanics of these agreements are fragile. First, it is a bad publicity for our governments to be seen buying lands from poor countries to feed the already over-weighted populations of GCC citizens. It’s like taking the bread of a beggar to feed the son of the king.

Second, if global food shortages occur, and famine struck farm land countries, these agreements will not be honored, precisely at the exact time that food is required. The governments of Kenya, Pakistan, and Sudan will nationalize these farms to feed their citizens, a valid pretext, or else their citizens will perish and revolutions will take place.

So what’s the point of buying these lands? In good times, you can buy food from anywhere, and in bad times, the farms will be nationalized and we will lose our investments and food source.

In any case, we are an obese nation; we should cut on our food imports.