Farmers quit as militiamen levy ‘rent’ for Central Darfur land

Armed pro-government militiamen are levying ‘rent’ for farmland in Nertiti locality in Central Darfur, causing farmers to abandon their farms. A Nertiti farmer told Radio Dabanga that the militias impose a fee of SDG500 ($114) per acre of land. This is causing farmers to quit, for fear of abuse. “The militiamen levy SDG250 as rent, and another SDG250 for the use of a tractor,” he said. “They are simply taking fees for their own benefit, because these farming areas originally belong to the citizens. If the farmers refuse to pay, the militias will just rent the land to other people.” The farmer confirmed that many of these farmers are already displaced, having fled their home areas and farms, especially in remote regions, “because of the militias did not permit them to plant.” Radio Dabanga receives frequent complaints from throughout Darfur of beatings, violence and intimidation of displaced farmers by armed groups. Still in Nertiti, the displaced residents of camps in the locality have complained of the high price of consumer goods during the holy month of Ramadan. A camp sheikh reported to Radio Dabanga that rising prices are making conditions increasingly tough for the displaced. “The price of a sack of millet has risen to SDG300 ($70), sorghum to SDG240 ($55), and a pound of dry okra SDG7 ($1.60).” The sheikh said that the displaced now have to pay SDG4 ($0.90) for a pound of sugar. File photo: Farmers in Darfur (enoughproject.org/ Laura Jones) Related: ‘Militia shoots protector of displaced women in West Darfur’: Sheikh (21 July 2013) Short rations, rising Ramadan prices plague Darfur displaced (12 July 2013) Sleeping farmers ‘whipped, robbed by militia’ in Darfur midnight raid (2 July 2013)Displaced farmers attacked and injured by ‘militiamen’ in Central Darfur (23 June 2013)‘Over 300 farms’ destroyed by herders near Darfur camp (29 March 2013)