Impact of Urban Expansion on the Livelihood of Peri- Urban Agricultural Community: Case of Wolaita Sodo Town, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of the expansion of the town on the livelihood of the dislocated farming community in Wolaita Sodo. A total of 100 sample households were selected by the probability proportional to size and each was interviewed for the purpose. Offa Gandaba, Offa Sere, Bosa Kecha and Kokate Marachere are peripheries of the town where the largest projects of residential expansion are being implemented dislocating the farming community from these areas. Household survey, participatory group discussions and key informants interviews were used to assess the situation. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, percentage, and frequency distribution were used to describe the socio economic characteristics of the sample households. In addition, p and chi-square tests were used to compare age of Households head, education level and family size, land size, means of livelihoods, credit utilization, infrastructure and job opportunity of dislocated farming community. A Probit model was used to estimate factors determining the livelihoods of peri-urban community. A total of thirteen explanatory variables, 7 continuous, 6 categorical and dummy, were included in the empirical model. Out of these, seven were found to be statistically significant. These variables include Age of Household head, Education level, Land Size, means of livelihood, Credit utilization, infrastructure and job opportunity. The age of household head has negative relationship with urban expansion effect on peri-urban community, but significant at 5% significance level. The results of the study indicated that the implemented expansion program is not participatory and have marginalized the farming community. The compensation schemes envisaged for the loss of assets excluded youth and women. The dislocation program implemented is not rehabilitative and negatively affected the livelihood of the dislocated farming community.

Key terms:  urban expansion, dislocation, displacement, livelihood, Probit model.