Urban Expansion and Its Effects on Peripheral Farming Communities: The Case of

Nekemte Town, Oromia, Ethiopia

Alemayehu Megersa 1*, Nanbon Jambare2**
1Lecturer at College of Engineering and Technology, Wollega University, Ethiopia
2Researcher at Center for the studies of environment and society, Wollega University, Ethiopia
*Corresponding Author: alexmegersa89@gmail.com, +251-923-126-289
**Corresponding Author: nanyadatayesus7@gmail.com, +251-911552770
P-O –Box 395. Nekemte

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants for giving valuable information and for their

cooperation in providing necessary data for the study. At the same time, gratitude goes to

Wollega University Nekemte campus for financially assisting this study.

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Urban Expansion and Its Effects on Peripheral Farming Communities: The Case of
Nekemte Town, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Urban expansion is a common phenomenon in both developed and developing countries. In

developed countries, it is associated with economic advancement and urban centers are seen as
engine of growth enhancing rural development by creating market for agricultural products and
providing agricultural inputs for more productivity. However, in developing countries urban
expansion are with negative effect. The major effects contributing for rapid urban expansion in
Ethiopia are higher natural population growth, rural to urban migration and spatial urban
development.
Nekemte town is one of the most expanding Towns in the country, this study aimed at examining
the expansion of Nekemte town and effects on peripheral farming communities. This study has
employed descriptive research design; the study had applied mix methods of both qualitative and
quantitative approaches. Household survey conducted on 161 households sampled thorough
systematic sampling and non – random sampling techniques .method backed by tools such as
open-ended interview guided questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus group
discussions while the secondary one was from different written and documented sources. There
were 752 displaced farmers since 2011 from which the sample size of 161 (15 percent) was
taken. The result of the study indicated that urban expansion program around Nekemte was not
participatory, people were not given awareness, and the dislocated households did not have
opportunity to bargain in the determination of the amount and kinds of compensation and
calculating the value of assets.

Key Terms: Urban expansion, peripheral farming communities, displacement, compensation

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1. INTRODUCTION

Urbanization is the process of urban expansion may involve both horizontal and vertical
expansion of the physical structure of urban areas. And it can result in loss of agricultural land,
natural beauties, range lands, parks and sceneries (Minwuyelet, 2004). Although level of
urbanization in developing countries is low, the pace of urbanization is at fastest rate.
Approximately 25 percent of Africa’s population lived in towns and cities in 1975. In 2000, 38%
of the continent’s population lived in urban areas and the proportion is expected to increase to
47% by 2015 and to double by 2050 (Thou, 2010).
Ethiopia is characterized by low level of urbanization even by African standard, where only 17%
of populations live in urban area. Despite this, it has recorded a relatively high growth rate of
urban population (4% annually), double that of rural areas. However, such high growth rate is
not often accompanied by development in socio-economic services and infrastructure, and
economic and employment capacity of the urban centers to support the growing population
(Teller and Assefa, 2010).
Following outward urban expansion, peri-urban land use pattern would change from the one
dominated by agriculture to a multiple landscapes. The problem of rapid and uncontrolled urban
growth and its consequence on regional landscape in developing countries have been a serious
concern for various scholars. Perhaps more worrisome is happened when there is surreptitious
city encroachment on fertile agricultural land and other socio-economic implication on peri-
urban areas of most cities (Adeboyejoet al., 2007).
Many cities are rapidly growing into their fringe, engulfing former villages and farm lands and
transforming them into urban development. The rate of natural increase is generally slightly
lower in urban than in rural areas. However, the principal reasons for raising the level of
urbanization and city growth are rural-urban migration, geographical expansion of urban areas
through annexation and transformation and re-classification of rural village into small urban
settlements (Cohen, 2005).
Rapid population increase, urbanization and changing socio-economic pattern are deriving forces
that influenced special change in peri-urban areas (Jongkroy, 2009). Although multifaceted, the
main cause of urban expansion is population pressure. The increase in African population is
surprising. However, more surprisingly, their urban growth rate is higher than the growth rate of
national population in almost all countries of the continent. Among other factors, the population

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pressure, as Berhanu (2005) argues, caused horizontal expansion of African cities. The
horizontal expansion of cities is, however, at the expense of prime agricultural lands and
agricultural productivity which of both are the main livelihoods of peripheral communities.
Urbanization and urban growth are considered as a modern way of life manifesting economic
growth and development. However, urbanization and urban development in Ethiopia faced a
number of socio-economic problems (Tegegne, 2002).
Nekemte town is one of the fast growing urban centers in the east Wollega zone. This ongoing
expansion process captures the views of peripheral farmers who forced to leave their land and
property. Therefore, the effect of this process of urban expansion on the surrounding farming
community needs to be clearly known in order to reduce the negative effect. Hence, the objective
of this study was assessed the Urban Expansion and Its Effects on Peripheral Farming
Communities the Case of Nekemte Town, East Wollega Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia.
2. The Study Area, Data Type & Source, and Methodology

2.1. Study Area

The study area is located in east Wollega zone, which is 330 km from Addis Ababa the capital of
Ethiopia. According to the federal Urban Planning Manual (2006), Nekemte Stands as one of the
top fourteen highly populated towns in Ethiopia and the top seven highly populated towns of
Oromia categorized as Large Towns. Nekemte is a significant town next to Jima in the western
part of Ethiopia and Oromia Region. Nekemte significance is manifested by its role as a transport
hub connecting Gojam and Gondar from the north to Jima and Majie to the south; and Addis
Ababa from the east to Assosa and Gambella to the west through the federal highways. Its
astronomical location is 9°o 46`o N and 36`o 31`o E whilst its elevation is 2088 meters above
sea level. The town linearly stretches over 3192 hectares, mainly along the Addis Ababa-Assosa
highway.

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Figure 3.1: Map of Ethiopia, Oromia regional state, and Nekemte Town

2.2. Data type & source

Both qualitative and quantitative data were used to understand the problems and research
questions. In qualitative research, the site and participants are mostly selected by researchers’
purpose fully that will best help to understand the problems and research questions (Creswell,
2009). As a result, those informants who are relevant to meet the intended objective by giving
rich and generous information are selected. Therefore, since informants appear to have a
profound impact on the result, qualitative approach needs due attention than quantitative
approach which has pre-conception about end result. Quantitative data were represented in

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numbers and figures, hence the researcher was used quantitative data to express in statistical
(numerical) which emphasize sample size and deal with facts.
Thus, in this study, we deliberately selected those informants who could furnish indispensable
and rich data about the livelihood circumstances of the displaced people. Therefore, in order to
get varied and rich data, interviewees were purposefully selected from those relocates that left
the area in advance of the determined cut-off date rather than leaving in accordance to or after
the deadline. Because, the former relatively know well about the livelihoods of displaced people
than the later who have shallow information because they lived short at the new location.
The sources of data were collected from both primary and secondary data. Primary data were
collected from the Original sources of data, which include open-ended and close-ended
questionnaires, interviews for farmers, elders, town dwellers, field observation with the displaced
farmers and municipality officials Kebele administrators and communities’ leaders. Secondary
data were collected from reported documents, various registers and publications (like research
reports and papers, magazines), documents available on different profiles on the World Wide
Web and land use regulations, and government policy documents for the study of urban
expansion.

2.3. Methodology
Informants’ selection criteria were based on availability sampling. The particular focus of the
interview include the common understanding of local farmers towards urban expansion the major
positive and negative impacts of urban expansion and land-use changes, an interview was
prepared for kebele administration, community elders, displaced farmers, and municipality.
These included women, and men whose landholdings have been expropriated in case of urban
expansion. Accordingly, a total of 43 informants were selected composed of 27 men, and 16
women were interviewed. This strategy of selection was preferred since it helps the researchers
to understand the impact of urban expansion from a different perspective on different social
groups. Other concerned administration experts from Nekemte Town municipality, bureau of
investment, office of urban land management as well as a bureau of Agricultural and natural
resource office were part of the interview. Because experts and office heads who are directly
working on the issue are believed to have rich data than the others. In furthermore, it helps to get

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the required information from community elders could describe changes resulting over time than
other existing young people.
Table 2.1: Number of key Informants:

No. Name of zone/ Sampling

kebeles Kebeles Displaced Municipality Technique
Leaders farmhouse holds officials

M F T M F T M F T
1 Wollega 1 1 2 9 5 14 2 2 4 Purposive
university area

2 Sorga area/dune 1 - 1 13 8 21 1 - 1 Purposive

kane kebele

2 1 3 22 13 35 3 2 5
Total

Note M,: male, F: female, T : Total

Source: The researchers’ manipulation from Guto Gida Woreda Administration (2021)

2.4. Sample Selection

To generate data on the Urban Expansion and Its Effects on Peripheral Farming Communities
questionnaires were administered to a total of 161 sample households; of which 147 households
returned completed questionnaires ( the remaining either did not return the questionnaires at all
or returned them uncompleted ). To assure the representativeness of the target group households
that were settlers and faced study problems in the peripheral part of Nekemte town a Simple
random sampling technique was used. To generate data on the Urban Expansion and Its Effects
on Peripheral Farming Communities questionnaires were administered to a total of 161 sample
households; of which 147 households returned completed questionnaires ( the remaining either
did not return the questionnaires at all or returned them uncompleted ). To assure the
representativeness of the target group households that were settlers and faced study problems in
the peripheral part of Nekemte town a Simple random sampling technique was used. The town
has different sub town division and it is surrounded by peripheral neighboring areas, they are
Sorga area, university area, Cheleleki and others. From this, the town’s rapid expansion is highly
prevalent in the peripheral part of the town. Sorga area, and Wollega university area are the

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recently expansion areas .The investigators mad an attempted to take representative sample of
households from these expansion to peripheral farming communities. In this regard, the
researchers purposively selected these areas. This is due to the fact that the majority of farming
communities were displaced and expansion to these areas. In each peripheral areas, a list of the
displaced households would be generated from roasters of the kebele administration, to form the
sampling frame for simple random sampling, 93% Confidence level and 7% precision level are
used at criteria. Therefore, representative samples of these households have been calculated
based on the formula for sample size determination and the finite population. According to
Ahlam Yimam (June, 2017) the formula is given as:

N
n=
1 + N𝑒2
752
n= = 161
1 + 752(0.07)2

Where n= required sample size=161, N=is target population of the study =752, and e=is margin
of error=0.07
2.4. Data Analysis and Reporting
The study has both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis; before any data analyzing
techniques primarily data collected from sampled households were processed and analyzed,
qualitatively. Concerning the data gathered from a household survey, the field supervisor checks
every completed the questionnaire; the pre-coded questionnaires were processed; managed, and
analyzed by using the tools Micro-soft excel program, micro-soft word, illustrator, Google map,
and AutoCAD. Variables such as; sex, age, family size, education status, their attitude on the
effects of urban expansion on their farmland and livelihood were analyzed using descriptive
statistics mainly percentages and graphs. The acquired data statistics were presented and
analyzed by using tables, graphs, figures, charts, maps, and reports.
3. Results
3.1. Participants’ Demographics Characteristics
This deal with the Description of general characteristics of sample respondents and then
information's are presenting, analyzing and interpreted collected/gathered from; farmers who
were displaced from their land between (2011 -2021 years ago ,) from key informants who were
interviewed such as formal and informal leaders and influential elders, municipal experts and

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official documents through conducting questionnaires, interviews and document analysis in
Nekemte Town, Oromia Regional State .In general to explain the socio-economic status of the
major actors in Urban Expansion and Its Effects on Peripheral Farming Communities study were
used different variables. such as; Sex, Ages, Marital status, Family size, Level of Education,
Religious composition, Occupation , Monthly Income, and Household respondents lived in the
Town were collected and interpreted According to field observation the majority of the
participant were male respondents out of 161, 107(66%) and the Age structure of the
Respondents between 20 and 30 years old in majority groups. Concerning Educational
background, the majority of the household was the ability to read and write in the Study Area.
Figure3.1: Composition of Respondents by Sex

Composition of Respondents by Sex

200

150
Axis Title

100

50

0 Male Female Total

Frequency 107 54 161
Percent 66 34 100

Source: Field survey, 2021

As the Figure above expressed the respondents‟ 107(66%) indicated that the male and

54(34%) were female. Hence the majority of the sample respondents were males (male headed

households).

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Table 3.1.Age of Respondents

Age of Wollega university Sorga area / frequency percent

Respondents area Dune Kane

15-29 91 23 114 71
30-49 11 16 27 17
50-64 7 8 15 9
65 and above 2 3 5 3
Total 111 50 161 100.00
Source: Field survey, 2021

The Age structure of the Respondents were between 15 and 29 years old in majority groups

Figure 3.2: Marital Status of the Respondents

Marital Status of the Respondents

180
160
140
120
100
80
Axis Title

60
40
20
0
single Married divorced windowed Total
Wollega university area 7 88 3 5 103
Sorga area / Dune Kane 11 39 2 6 58
frequency 18 127 5 11 161

Source: Field survey, 2021

The majority of respondents were married (Figure3.2).

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 Table 3.2: Educational Background of the Respondents

Level of
Education Wollega university Sorga area / frequency percent
area Dune Kane
Illiterate 6 1 7 4
Write and 33 39 72 45
read
Grade 1- 4 20 14 34 21
Grade 5-8 13 16 29 18
Grade 9-10 2 1 3 1.8
Grade 11- 1 4 5 3
12
Diploma - 9 9 5.6
Degree& 1 1 2 1.2
above
Total 76 85 161 100.00
Source: Field Survey, 2021

The majority of respondents’ were the ability to read and write (Table 3.2)

Table 3.3: Household Family Size

Sorga
Household family Wollega area /
Frequency Percent
size university Dune
area Kane
1-3 38 41 79 49
4-6 11 53 64 40
7-9 2 9 11 7
10-12 2 3 5 3
13-15 and above 1 1 2 1.2
Total 54 107 161 100.00
Source: Sample households survey, 2021

The most respondents were high family sizes. (Table 3.3)

Figure 3.3: Households monthly income

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 100%
90% 1
13 43 34 6 3
80%
70%
60%
50%
40% 2
21 69 55 9 5
30%
20%
10%
0%
<800 801-1600 1601-2200 2201-3000 3001-3800 above 3801
Frequency Percent

Source: Sample households survey, 2021

The majority of respondents income levels were 801 to 1600 (Figure 3.3)

4. Discussion

The main rationale for conducting research on the Urban Expansion and Its Effects on Peripheral
Farming Communities were to find out the realities and best possible fit between the procedural
requirements of the farmland expropriation and compensation with what is practically happens
when farmers and farm communities are displaced from their source of livelihood. As Kanji,
(2005) explain that rapidly changing of the farmlands to urban land-use is increasing from time
to time through land acquisition. Such kind of changes has been the sources of an increasing
number of land conflicts. Thus, this study was intended to investigate major causes of Urban
Expansion and Its Effects on Peripheral Farming Communities. The expansion was capture many
hectares of the lands and more impact on the peripheral farming and farmers of the area, hence
reduce the production and increase the air condition and as well as it was consume three
thousand one hundred and sixteen Hectares of the area (3116) from sorga area/dune kane kebele
and 220 hectares from Wollega university area hence it was consume the total 3336 hectares
from (2011 -2021) years.

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The negative and positive consequences of physical urban expansion on farmers life on the peri-
urban areas and the problems regarding the expropriation and compensation process from the
perspectives of legal and democratic rights of the displaced farmers, Similarly, the study had also
pointed out that the physical urban expansion affected human capital of these households
explained by poor nutrition, inadequate food, poor health, lack of education and very limited
marketable skills and knowledge all of which are the function of the households‟ income level
that in turn is determined by the type and nature of the livelihood alternatives each of the
households have. To this end, the following leading questions were formulated: What is the
major problem of the expansion of the town on peripheral Farming Communities in the last 10
years in terms of socio-economic, physical, and natural capitals in the study area? What was the
perception of the affected community on the appropriateness of benefit Provide to compensate
for the dispossessed materials? What were the current alternative survival strategies of the farm
households?
To answer the questions, the researcher was used both quantitative and qualitative research
methods. The sampling techniques employed in this study were Simple random sampling
technique was used and selective purposive. To gather the required data: questionnaires,
document analysis, interviews, and focus group discussions were used. A Review of related
literature was also conducted on topics concerning the urban expansion and its effects on
peripheral farming communities. All the gathered data was tabulated, converted into percentages,
analyzed, interpreted, and discussed. The major findings of the research paper reveal that
Nekemte Town farmers were displaced from their farmland without enough compensation. The
displaced farmers have been suffered, from different socio-economic problems such as
migration, separation from their social organizations, unemployment, and poverty as well as
conflict with the municipality. This implies, even though they have their limitations, the legal
procedures of the country are put on paper but for practical on the groundwork was not more
implemented. Obtained previously recorded secondary data from the town’s municipality,
Shortage of time and small financial support with the required amount were the major challenges
that were facing the researchers during the study.

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5. Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1. Conclusion
The expansion of urban to the neighboring rural environment is caused by two major factors;
namely spatial urban growth and urban population increase due to high birth rate and rural to
urban migration. This leads to rapid changes of rural farmland into urban land use at this time
than before. As a socio-economic dynamics, urbanization underwent different phases in
Ethiopian urban history, where the current rate is very much unprecedented before. On this top
of fact, Nekemte town is expanding with higher rate and this acceleration of the expansion is the
highest the way by which a given society is shaped and reshaped with better socio-economic
development. Conversely, urbanization has the shadow feature which is the negative effect it has
on the community towards whom it reached. This study has assessed such effect the urban
expansion had brought on the livelihood of the peripheral agricultural community in Ethiopia by
taking the case of Nekemte Town expansion .Having employing the descriptive research
methods, the researchers collected data based on survey on 161 households, those who displaced
and hence whose livelihood had been adversely affected. The Key informants‟ narrations,
different stakeholders‟ focus group discussion, the researchers’ participatory observation and
documentary resources were tools to collect data and as well as With the application both
quantitative and qualitative approaches used for data collection.
During the town’s expansion, despite of the community’s awareness of the expansion via
orientations and warnings by the town administration, the farming community was not made
participant on the decisions about the kinds and amount of compensations and related benefits to
them for the farming land displaced from there , and for the property they lost.
Before urban expansion over this community’s residences, an average annual income these
households used to earn per year was varying from 1,000- 5,000 ETB where the majority’s
income was in the range of 11,000-40,000 ETB. However, after then, this study had scanned that
there was no a single households earning above 20,000 ETB and majority fallen in the income
group of 1000-10,000 per year. Similarly, four selected the households‟ that are the saving asset
as financial asset had shown a significant decline currently from the average amount it was
before arrival of urbanization over the residences of the sampled households. Moreover, the
social capital this community had before declined from above moderate through very high to
very low while natural asset mainly land and permanent forest declined. Similarly, the study had

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also pointed out that the horizontal urban expansion affected human capital of these households
explained by inadequate food, poor nutrition, poor health, poor education and very limited
marketable skills and knowledge all of which are the function of the households‟ income level
that in turn is determined by the type and nature of the livelihood alternatives each of the
households have. Therefore, this study had assessed and found that the urban expansion has
adversely affected the financial, social, natural, physical and human asset of the peripheral
farming community’s live livelihood which was why these community call themselves as “urban
made destitute”.
5.2. Recommendations

As a final point, the following Recommendations were forwarded.

Support smart growth strategies: Smart growths concentrate on compact development
Creative and efficient management: presenting creative urban policies will cause an appropriate
growth. So, planners should be able to determine value and direction of development and its
costs.
Provide Sustainable use of land resources and avoid agricultural land loss by uncontrolled
horizontal urban expansion.
Create awareness and confirm all participation of the community in the forgoing programs and
decision-making should be given priority before implementation of the program.
Poorly planned and managed urban development is threatening the human health, environmental
condition, economy and generally the quality of life .it is necessary to be prepared with the best
professional in their ethics and skill. Therefore the city or town administration should be building
its capacity and employ professionals by seeking job training programs for its staff and applying
modern technology to manage the land resources properly.
This study focused on urban expansion and its effects on peripheral farming communities:
Therefore further study is required to assess rapid physical urban expansion and it is necessary to
change this trend and make the policies that implement vertical growth of the town

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