Its richly fertile soil has attracted foreign and domestic investors who have leased large tracts of land at favorable prices. From 2008 through January 2011, Ethiopia leased out at least 3.6 million hectares of land, an area the size of the Netherlands.
The country's highly fertile ground has attracted international and local investors who have taken long-term leases on substantial areas of land at competitive prices. During the period from 2008 to January 2011, Ethiopia leased out a minimum of 3.6 million hectares of land, roughly the size of the Netherlands.