COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

IMPACTS OF URBAN EXPANSION ONAGRICULTURAL LAND IN

SURROUNDING KEBELES OF MEKANESELAM TOWN

A SENIOR ESSAY SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY

AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA) DEGREE IN
GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Prepared By

Name ID/NO

1.Banchalem Alamne CSSH/00389/11

2.Kibinesh Alemu CSSH/1212/11
3.Esa Merga CSSH/0784/11

Advisor:- Asefa Amare

June/2021

Mekdela Amba Ethiopia

APPROVAL SHEET

Mekdela Amba University

College of Social Science and Humanities
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

------ __________________ ______________

Name Signature Date

Approved by

1. Asefa Amare __________________ ______________

Advisor Signature Date

2. ______________________ __________________ _______________

Examiner Signature Date

3. Minale Melese _______________ _______________

Departmet Head Signature Date
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

First of all we would like to my thanks my ALMIGHTYG GOD, who helped me in finishing
this degree program successfully. advisor who is Asefa Amare heart thanks for his excellent
and educative advice. I also would like to express my heart full, gratitude and sympathetic
appreciation to my family our heart full gratitude

Thanks to God.
Abstract

The Ethiopian urban centers are expanding in unexpected rate resulting to the peasant
displacement, with the loss of agricultural land and loss of agricultural production. The
objective of this study is to assess the effective of urban expansion on livelihood of the peri-
urban population of the study area. This research was conducted using data obtained from
primary and secondary source and the research were employed both qualitative and quantitative
data analysis. The finding of the study shows that the trends of urban expansion in the study area
have total area 4500 hectare before 2004, but now it covers 4873.8 hectare. Horizontal
expansion of the periphery of the study area had positive and negative effects. The positive
effects were access to market, access to light, access to pure water, construction road and health
care. There were lacks of awareness by the farmers regarding to the positive effects urban
expansion. Hence the concerned body should create awareness regarding to the benefits of
urban expansion.
Acronyms

AADT-Annual Average Daily Traffic

CSA- Central Statistical Agency

E.C- Ethiopian Calendar

ITCZ-Inter Tropical Convergent Zone

KM-Kilo Meter

MM-Millimeter

UN-United Nation
 Table of Contents
Contents page
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT………………………………………………………………………………I
ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………………………...II
ACRONYMS.........................................................................................................................................III

List of figures…………………………………………………………………………………………IV
List of tables…………………………………………………………………………………………IV
CHAPTER ONE………………………………………………………………………………………1

1.1. Background of the Study...................................................................................................1

1.2. Statement of Problem........................................................................................................2
1.3. Objective of the Study.......................................................................................................3
1.3.1. General Objective of the Study...................................................................................3
1.3.2. Specific Objective of the Study..................................................................................3
1.4. Research Questions...........................................................................................................3
1.5. Scope of the Study.............................................................................................................3
1.6. Significance of the Study..................................................................................................3
1.7. Limitation of the Study......................................................................................................4
CHAPTER TWO.............................................................................................................................5
2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE...............................................................................5
2.1. Concept and Definition of Terms......................................................................................5
2.2. Urbanization in the World.................................................................................................5
2.3. Urbanization in Africa.......................................................................................................6
2.4. Urbanization in Ethiopia...................................................................................................6
2.4.1. Urbanization in MekaneselamTown...........................................................................7
2.5. Cases of Urban Expansion................................................................................................7
2.5.1. Population Growth......................................................................................................7
2.5.2. Rural Urban Migration...............................................................................................8
 2.5.3. Push and Pull Factor...................................................................................................8
2.6. Impacts of Urban Expansion.............................................................................................8
2.6.1. Positive Impacts of Urban Expansion.........................................................................8
2.6.1.1. Affordability.........................................................................................................8
2.6.1.2. Environmental Effect...........................................................................................9
2.6.1.3. Strip Developmentt..............................................................................................9
2.6.2. Negative Impacts of Urban Expansion.......................................................................9
2.6.2.1. Lose of Land Area................................................................................................9
2.6.2.2. Social Problem of Urban Expansion....................................................................9
2.6.2.3. Environmental Degradation...............................................................................10
2.6.2.4. Loss of Agricultural Land..................................................................................10
2.7.Conceptial frame work ..................................................................................................
CHAPTER THREE
3. Research Methods and Study Design.....................................................................................12
3.1. Physical Background.......................................................................................................12
3.1.1. Location and Relief...................................................................................................12
3.1.2. Climate......................................................................................................................12
3.1.3. Demographic Characteristics of Mekaneselam Town..............................................13
3.1.4. Infrastructure in MekaneselamTown........................................................................13
3.1.4.1. Education..............................................................................................................14
3.1.4.2. Health Service....................................................................................................15
3.1.4.3. Municipal Service..............................................................................................15
3.1.5. Social Economic Condition......................................................................................15
3.2. Research Methodology....................................................................................................15
3.2.1. Research Design.......................................................................................................15
3.2.2. Data Source...............................................................................................................15
3.2.3. Sampling Size...........................................................................................................16
3.2.4. Sampling Techniques................................................................................................16
3.2.5. Methods of Data Analysis and Presentation.............................................................16
CHAPTER FOUR.......................................................................................................................17
4. DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION................................................................17
 4.1. Background information of the respondents...................................................................17
4.2 The Proportion of Farmers Affected by the Expansion of the Town for Selected Kebeles
................................................................................................................................................19
4.3 Trends of Urban Expansion in the Study Areas..........................................................19
4.4 Causes of Urban Expansion in the Study Area...........................................................20
4.5 Effects of Urban Expansion.............................................................................................20
4.5.1 Positive Effects..........................................................................................................20
4.5.2 Negative Effects.........................................................................................................21
4.5.2.1 Economic Impacts...............................................................................................21
4.5.2.2 Environmental Impact.........................................................................................22
4.5.2.3 Loss of Agricultural Land...................................................................................23
CHAPTER FIVE...........................................................................................................................26
5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................................26
5.1 Conclusion........................................................................................................................26
5.2 Recommendation..............................................................................................................27
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................28
APPENDIX...............................................................................................................................I
 List of Tabel

Fig. 2.1 Conceptual Framework…………………………………………………………

Fig 4.1 Age Structure…………………………………………………………………………

Fig4.2. The Proportion of Affected Farmer in Each Kebele……………………………………….

Fig4.4. the generation of wastes at the periphery of the town (kebele 01)………………………...

Table 4.1 Background Information of the Respondents……………………………………………

Table 4.2. Respondent’s Response towards the Effects of Urban Expansion……………………...

Table 4.3 land status of farmers after 2006……………………………………………………..

Table 4.4;- Town Administrator Interview Towards Loss of Agricultural Land in Hectare……..

Table 4.5: -Respondents’ Responses Towards Compensation Utilization……………………

 CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the Study

Urban is place based characteristic, then we can proceed to define an urban place as a special
concentration of people whose lives are organized around nonagricultural activities. Urban is a
place based characteristic that incorporates elements of population density, social and economic
organization and transformation of the natural environment into a built environment.
Urbanization is an avoidable phenomenon which ultimately converts the agricultural land into
urban land which may impact the farmer’s level hood agricultural production and consumer of
the surrounding area negatively. In the present study GIS and Remote sensing approach is used
to analyze the phenomena of agricultural land transformation into urban land use (Brown 2014).

Urban is described as a town and a town is a place where people is live and work, containing
many houses, shops, place of work, place of entertainment etc. Urbanization is the process to the
increasing number of people live in urban areas and that engaged in non-agricultural activities.
Urbanization is the outcome of social, economic and political developments that lead to urban
concentration and growth of large cities, change in land use and transformation from rural to
metropolitan pattern of organization and governance (Mekaneselam town municipality 2019 ).

Currently more than half of the world population lives in cities or towns. However, it is often the
case that settlement growth irregularly under the increment the population of the city and the
process of urbanization is not well planned. Urbanization can yield important social benefit,
improving access to public service such as education, health care and cultural facilities. However
it had also an effect to the environment like water pollution, air pollution and reducing the size of
farm land that requires policy response currently, particularly in developing countries rate of
urbanization are high which is a tremendous impact on agricultural land that is the
transformation of the potential agricultural land into urban expansion (World Bank 2008). As a
result, these unplanned transformation process poses a problem on the agricultural land that
means conversation of prim-agricultural most for residential land. The consequence is low
agricultural productivity, low standard of living and food insecurity. Therefore, in Mekaneselam
there is urban expansion and it reduces the productivity of farming land as well as the socio-
economic aspect of society (Mekaneselam town municipality 2020).

1.2. Statement of the Problem

The urban expansion is spontaneous phenomena that lead to spontaneous growth by disciplining
rural farmers’ community. Even the planed displacement has its own negative effect on the
livelihood post disciplined life of the affected community. Comparatively development attributed
to urban sprawl is more significant in developing countries than developed countries. The reason
for this is that majority of the people in developing countries are highly concentrated in peri
urban area. The base of their livelihood on peri-urban agriculture with fragmented land holding
therefore, this urban expansion is inevitably result to displacement of peri-urban peasants with
small scale economy then by necessitating compensation. However in developing countries like
that of Ethiopia where land ownership belongs to public and government, the amount of
compensation paid to displaced peasants depend on government and the commitment of program
implementers (Tegegne, 2007).

Unquestionably, land is the highest value and physically fixed asset and hence is base for the
lives and livelihood of community. The strategy would be the key institution to safe guard the
adverse effect of urbanization. Moreover, this strategic plan needs to be participation in such a
way to integrate urban development to achieve growth management and responsive remedial
action at both the town and sub-urban levels (UN HABITAT, 2014).

Personal observation indicates that the sub-urban community of Mekaneselam town is prone to
displacement and land expropriation due to the expansion of the population of the Mekaneselam
town. Over all the leap frog expansion of the town would have an adverse effect on the prime
agricultural land into different urban land use activities.

Therefore, the research aimed to minimize the negative effect of urban expansion in the farmer’s
livelihood and upgrade the positive effect in order to economically, socially as well as
environmentally obtain good standard.
1.3. Objective of the Study

1.3.1. General Objective of the Study

The general objective of this study was to assess the effect of urban expansion on on the
agricultural land of peri-urban population of Mekaneselam town.

1.3.2. Specific Objective of the Study

The specific objective of this study includes:

 To examine the main causeof urban expansion in Mekaneselam town.

 To identify the social effect of urban expansion on the farmers livelihood.
 To examine the economic effect of urban expansion on the peri-urban farmers
livelihood.
 To forward possible solution for the problem in the town.

1.4. Research Questions

Based on the above objectives, this research has answered the following main research question:-

• What are the major cases of urban expansion?

• What are the effects of urban expansion on farmer’s livelihood?

• What are the effect of urban expansion on economic?

1.5. Scope of the Study

The study was limited to the periphery area of Mekaneselam town in the surrounding kebele.
The kebeles was include for the investigation are 01, 02, 03 and 04 on the effect of urban
expansion on the livelihood of uran agricultural land of the community.

• 1.6. Significance of the Study

The finding of this study has some significance. The study would be important to the local
government of Mekaneselam town as assures of information to improve the socio-economic
problem of the peri-urban area.
• 1.7. Limitation of the Study
To conduct this study the researcher was faced a number of problems. Among the limitations
financial and time constraints to collect the basic information and unwillingness of some
respondents, and officials to give the necessary information that the researchers keen to gather.
However with the smooth relationship and great patience of the researcher, the study was
fruitful.

CHAPTER TWO

2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1. Concept and Definition of Terms
Urban expansion in the contemporary world is result direct commutative effect of rural urban
migration establishment of few residential areas and expansion of other investment. However the
expansion of urban center directly or indirectly reduces the size of agricultural land especially in
the study area (Kristin 2011).

Population growth in developing country is very high as compared to developed countries.

Natural population growth is a major element in urban growth for all countries but rural urban
migration contributes to fast growth of urban population due to economic development that
attracts people to urban nuclei for commerce, employment and education of developing region.
Africa shows the highest urban population growth with faster urbanization.

According to Kristin (2011) urbanization refers to the social shift from agricultural rural life
style to the city.

2.2. Urbanization in the World

The urban population of the world has grown rapidly from 746millionin 1950 to 3.9 billion in
2014. Asia despite its lower level of urbanization is home to 53% of the world urban population,
followed by Europe with 14% and Latin America and the Caribbean with13%. The world urban
population is expected to suppose six billion by 2045. Much of the expected urban growth will
take place in countries of developing regions particularly Africa. As a result, this country will
face numerous challenges in meeting the needs of their growing urban population, including for
housing infrastructure, transportation, energy and employment as well as for basic services such
as education and health care.

Managing urban areas has become one of the most important development challenges of the 21 st
century. Our success or failure in building sustainable cities will be a major factor in the success
of the post: - 2015 United Nation development agenda (John Wilmoth, Director of United Nation
2015).

2.3. Urbanization in Africa

The continent of Africa has some of the ancient cites in the world such as those found in the
valley of Nile which is known as Aphroditeodis near Cairo (Rakodi 2008). The urbanization of
most of Africa is moving fast forward, especially south of the Sahara. It is estimated that in 1900,
about 89% of Africa’s inhabitants south of the Sahara lived from the primary occupations of
farming, hunting and gathering cattle nomadic, and fishing. At the start of the independent period
in 1957, 14.7% of Africa in habitants where urban in 200 had it risen to 37.2% and it is expected
to rise to 49.3% in 2015 (United Nation 2012).

The continent had almost no urban population and the colonial powers had not started to invest
much in its “pieces”. A good example is northern Nigeria in 1900 had a budget of £ 100,000 a
military force of 2000 Hausa- soldiers and 120 British officers area with this they were to govern
an enormous area with a population of about 10 million people. The economic and
administrative politics had the greatest effect on urbanization. The important export products
cash crops including cotton, maize, tobacco, sugar, coffee, tea, palm oil, and groundnuts and
minerals had to be transported to the harbor towns for export.

Africa is considered as the least urbanized continents in the comparison with other 3 rd world
countries but in the decades 1981-1991urbanization has taken place rapidly. On the whole
northern Africa is more urbanized in comparison to with south west, east Africa and central
Africa. Africa is contemporary experiencing rapid urban growth, but this continent is still least
urbanized in the world.

4. 2Urbanization in Ethiopia
Ethiopia has one of the fastest growing urban population in the world with the number of people
living in cities expected to nearly triple in the next two decades. This demographic dividend
presents a real opportunity to change the structure and location of economic activity from rural
agriculture to more diversified and much larger urban industrial and service sector. For
urbanization to contribute fully to economic growth and transformation it will have to be
managed well Ethiopia already benefits from high rates of economic growth, but among most
other countries at similar level of urbanization .it has the lowest national income (GNI).
Moreover growth has been driven investment and agricultural and rapid urbanization has not
been accompanied by structural transformation of the economy. With an official population of
86.6 million Ethiopian ranks as the 14th most populous country in the world. Yet it is not highly
urbanized according to figures from Ethiopians central statistical agency (CSA in 2012).

2.4.1. Urbanization in Mekaneselam Town

The configuration of Mekaneselam settlement can provide some indication of security and its
implication, and Mekaneselam have reverted areas of domestic occupation with evidence for
agricultural. (2007 National Census).
 2.5. Cases of Urban Expansion

2.5.1. Population Growth

The expansion of urban to the periphery is derived from two source namely urban development
and urban population increase. The first source of urban expansion to the periphery is stirred up
by the economic development project or “urban clearance” or “industrialization”. Space is
needed for industry, socio-economic infrastructure communication and road networks that
require reorganization and redevelopment of the space already inhabited (Cernia 2012).

The second reason for urban expansion to the periphery is urban population increase in the
middle of 1990s the world population was assumed to be 5.8 billion which the united nation
estimated more than 6.5 billion at the end of 1990s. By the year 2025it is assumed to reach 8.5
billion of which over 84% live in developing countries. The rate of population growth in
developing country is very high as compared to developed countries (Todaro 2011).

Natural population growth is a major element in urban growth for all countries but, rural urban
migration contributes even more in many developing countries. Migration contributes to fast
growth of urban population due to the economic development that attracts people to urban nuclei
for commerce, employment and education of developing regions. Africa shows the highest urban
population growth with faster urbanization (Foeken and Mwangi 2009).

As urban population increase, there must be space to accommodate these populations. People
compute for the site first for residence and second for investment depending up on with the urban
farmer work. The structure of local government and its policy may not be favorable to the
community who are supposed to leave their place of habitual residence to accommodate the
increasing population in urban settlement. Therefore urbanization and urban growth has become
central problem in the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural use. The poor farmers
are the net losers while largely better of urban settlement get the benefit of obtaining land at
subsidized prices (Mohan 2012).

2.5.2. Rural Urban Migration

Migration is a form of geographically or spatial motion between one geographical unit to
another. Migration is the main reason for rapid of growth of mega cities. People can move
regularly between urban to rural areas in accordance with demand of job and of family
responsibility without a need to make permanent change of residence. Advance in transportation
by easting rural access to external markets can relax the housing problem in the city. (Brook field
and Byron 2009). The reform migration contributes forfast growth of urban population due to the
economic developments that attracts people to urban nuclei for commerce, employment and
education.

2.5.3. Push and Pull Factor

People may move to the cities because they will be pushed by poverty from rural community or
they may will be pulled by the attractive of cites lives. The normal push factor to rural people are
circumstance that make their earning of living in possible land deterioration, lack of clean water,
an equal land distribution brought, storms flood and lack of modern resource or facilities etc are
the course for moving to urban areas(Byron 2009).

2.6. Impacts of Urban Expansion

2.6.1. Positive Impacts of Urban Expansion
Urban expansion has its own positive impacts. These positive impacts include:-

2.6.1.1. Affordability
According Gugles 2012 urban sprawl is something that will continue to occur as long as we live
here on hearth. It is not something that is going to change, but overtime the more rural areas are
going to become more populated because of development and change. This can be considered a
good thing at times, but other views it as a bad thing.

2.6.1.2. Environmental Effect

Urban sprawl may benefit to the environment of the concentration of people is low and its
sustainability kept by the dweller. A congressional report on sprawl states low density
development is better for air quality because air pollution over a wider area. Additionally, low
density area makes more room for green space, trees Park and yards which help to minimize both
air and water pollution (Gugle 2012).

2.6.1.3. Strip Development

Strip development which occur along a major road ways and is another factor of urban sprawl
contributes other positive effect property and environmental research center reports that
concentrating commercial establishment that relay on auto traffic within a confined spaces, strip
development actually minimize traffic by reducing the number of cares on the road and the
distance they must travel to a given businesses more over this form of development creates
natural location for residential development that convenient link residents with the business they
patronize.

2.6.2. Negative Impacts of Urban Expansion

2.6.2.1. Lose of Land Area

Wood land areas must be cleared to make room for urban population. New buildings and paved
road ways replace the forests. The result is loss of habitat areal for wood land creature. Such as,
deer, bears, wolves, and birds. In addition 40% of rainfall is evaporated from forest trees tops,
when a forests is cleared nearly all rain fall fails to the ground and cannot be observed where the
ground is covered with pavements areas with high level of rainfall can be proves to flooding,
drinking water may also prone to contamination due to rain water runoff (Kirstin 2011).

• 2.6.2.2. Social Problem of Urban Expansion

Urban expansion cases displacement, dislocation and segregation that result in social fabrics
disorder. People in the extended urban areas “live still partly rural and where many of the
residents live in the country but are not socially and economically of it”. They usually do not
participate in the planning and design of resettlement and dislocation options as well as the
distribution of associated costs or benefits.

Since social infrastructure is concentrated in the center people in the extended area relay on
proximity to facilitate. This involves long commute for work market and other basic social
needs. Low income household will continue to live in such sever social constraints in the
periphery. There is also possibility of isolation from the city development and sandwiched
between the rich creating class difference. This began to accelerate the migration of the
disadvantaged groups particularly the farming community who already inhabited the area. Even
urban rich or middle class incomers whose income permits to commit perhaps many could be
attractive to the live lines and benefit of the facilities in the center. Thes the community in the
periphery could face problem of survival strategies, solidarity network and system of power to
which the social and economic activity are linked to their original location (Mejia 2010).
 • 2.6.2.3. EnvironmentalDegradation
Urban waste relay on open canals, open drains in the road side and holes in the ground as regular
means of wasted disposal particularly in the expansion area. In addition to farms and
environmental resource such as clean water and air peace and quiet access to the country side
recreational facilities are environmental values that the rural farmers lose due to urban expansion
in the periphery (Balchinetal. 2009).

• 2.6.2.4. Loss of Agricultural Land

Urban expansion incorporated the prime agricultural land of the rural periphery of any country.
The expansion of the town that adversly affected the rural periphery area at different off from
their agricultural land (KindsleyDevies 2008).

2.7. Conceptual frame work

The conceptual framework that link between urban expansion and effects on agricultural land is
presented as of the following figure.

Impact Urban expansion

p o s e t i v e e f f e c t

• Access to market
• Access to health
• Access to pure water and light

N e g a t i v e e f f e c t s

• Environmental degradation
• Social problem
• Lose of wood land and agricultural land
 Cause of urban expansion

• Rural to urban migration

• Population growth

• Pull and push factor

Fig. 2.1 Conceptual Framework

The above conceptual frame work shows that the link between urban expansion and effects on
agricultural land. Therefore as shown above the figure urban expansion has both positive effects
access to market, access to light and health care, access to pure water and negative effects
environmental degradation, social problem, loss of agricultural and wood land.

CHAPTER THREE

3. RESEARCH METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

3.1. Physical Background
3.1.1. Location and Relief
The absolute location of Mekaneselam is a town of central Ethiopia. Located in the south wollo
zone of the Amara Region, this town has latitude of 10°45'00"N to 10.750° 00' 00" and

38°45'00"E to 38.750° 00'_00"E longitude, with an elevation of 1827metres above

mean sea level. It is the administrative center of Borena wereda.The relative
location of the city is borderd by eastern Gojjam in the west, kelala and wegdi in
the south,Leganbo(Akesta) in the east and saynit (Agibar)in the north in Borena
Woreda Mekaneselam Town located 480 and 191km south of Addis Ababa and
dessie

Figure 3.1 Map of the study area

3.1.2. Climate
The study area is located in subtropical climate type which receive seasonal rain fall and
characterized by woina degas climate zone. Which mean annual rainfall 1250mm year and mean
daily temperature is 18° c day (Mekaneselam town administrative office 2011).

3.1.3. Demographic Characteristics of Mekaneselam Town

Based on 2007 national census conducted by central statistical agency of Ethiopia, the total
population of The Town is 125,126 in 28,461 households, of whom 62,036 were women 63,090
were men; 5,509 or 4.4 percent of its population were urban dwellers. From this 63,090 are
males and 62,036 are females and the total population of the study area (Keble 4) is 9496 from
this 4975 are female and 4521 are male. The majority of in habitants follows Ethiopian orthodox
Christianity 57% and small number of Muslim 41% and protestant 2%. (Mekaneselam town
adminstrative office 2011).

3.1.4. Infrastructure in Mekaneselam Town

3.1.4.3. Education
There are 3 governmental primary schools, one private junior and one preparatory school, one
secondary school one governmental TVET and one public collage in the town (Mekaneselam
administrative office 2019).

3.1.4.4. Health Service

Regarding health service in the town there are four private clinic, one governmental hospital
which under construction and there are 13 private pharmacies (Mekaneselam town health office
2008).

3.1.4.5. Municipal Service

Mekaneselam town has public meeting hall, abattoir. It has general and cattle market making
once a week on saturday. There is recreational area of legeamharadam covered 20 km 2 and
Borenasaint national park along 19 km streets from the town, the park covering around 160,000
to 200,000 hectare. (Mekaneselam administrative office 2012).

3.1.5. Social Economic Condition

The main economic activates of the people in the town includes, trade, agriculture, public
administration and social service etc. Employment is in agriculture is refers cattle farming,
production of crop. In the town there are many public and private education facilities and road
infrastructure with cobblestone and asphalt (UN emergency unit for Ethiopia July 2005).

3.2. Research Methodology

3.2.1. Research Design
The research design used for this study was descriptive survey type of research design. This
research would be conduct using data obtained from primary and secondary source to describe
the current cause and effects of urban expansion on agricultural land.

3.2.2. Data Source

Both primary and secondary data were used for this study. The primary data was obtained
through questionnaires, observation and interview from households and offices. Whereas the
secondary data collected from published and unpublished materials.

Both primary and secondary data used for this study. The primary data would be obtained
through questionnaires, observation and interview from households and offices. Whereas the
secondary data would be collected from published and research materials.

3.2.3. Sampling Size

This study would be to investigate the impact of urban expansion in agricultural land livelihood
community in the periphery of select kebeles in Mekaneselam town. In Mekaneselam town there
are four kebeles, from these kebeles the researcher select three kebeles, because the selected
kebeles are found at periphery of the town near to agricultural land. Therefore the information
obtained from the selected kebeles of Mekaneselam town the total numbers of affected farmers
by urban expansion are 300. Out of this total number of affected farmers, the researcher took
10% (30) as sample. The sample was distributed proportionally for each selected kebele means
10% of farmers affected in the kebele from non-probability sampling technique purposive
sampling is employed. Since, the researcher deliberately used to gate reliable information.

n= N/1+N(e)2

where n= sample size

N= number of house hold

(e)2= Level of precision

n=N/1+N(e)2 = 300/1+300(0.1)2

300/1+300(0.0324)

=300/9.72=30

3.2.4. Sampling Techniques

The researcher employed both probability and non probability sampling techniques. From this
technique the researcher used purposive sampling technique. Since the researcher believed that
this sampling technique gives detail information from the selected kebele for our study and from
the total affected (300) researcher select 30 farmers randomly by giving number for all affected
people and select by ten differences. From probability sampling purposive would be employed
since the researcher deliberately will uses to gate reliable information.

3.2.5. Methods of Data Analysis and Presentation

The study of this research would be employed both quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
The quantitative data would be analyzed in terms of percentage, table, chart, graph etc., to show
the frequencies and compare and contrast different categories of sample unit with respect to the
desired characteristics. Where as the qualitative method would expressed in terms of numerical
value obtained from the primary data into statement.

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

In assessing the rate of urban expansion and its effect on agricultural land, it is important to
understand the attitude and current perception of respondents about urban expansion.Therefore,
the analysis part was based on questionnaire, interview, observation and secondary sources and
ideas included under this chapter.

The trends of urban expansion in the study areas, causes of urban expansion, and impact of urban
expansion

4.1. Background information of the respondents

Table 4.1 Background Information of the Respondents

Background Category Number of Percentage

respondents
Sex Male 21 70
 Female 9 30
Total 30 100
Educational Can’t read and write 0 0
background Can read and write 11 36.7
Elementary 8 26.7
grade (1-8)
Secondarycompleted (9-10) 5 16.7
College Diploma 6 20
completed
Total 30 100
Marital status Single - -
Married 26 86.7
Divorced 4 13.3
Total 30 100
Source: - Field Survey, 2021

As it’s shown in table 4.1 the majority or 70 percent of the respondents were male and the
remaining 30 percent were female farmers.

The educational background of the respondents were includes can’t read and write, elementary
grade (1-4) and junior secondary grade (5-8) which constituted 20%, 36.7%, 26.7%, and 16.7%
respectively.

The marital status of the respondents the majority were married which is 86.7% and the
remaining 13.3% were divorced and there were no unmarried or single.

Regarding the number of children of the respondents which is shown in table 4.1 above, the
majority of the respondents have three (3)children which constituted 53.3%. on the other hand
those who had two children and above four children constituted 30% of and 16.7% respectively.
As a chance there was no any respondent who has one child and null child.

From this it conclude that the majority of the respondents are males, married, and have above
three children and can lost their agricultural land due to urban expansion. But most of the
respondents are benefited from urban development, because of the surrounding study area, the
crop production is less due to unsuitable climatic condition and soil fertility, then the respondents
get more benefit from urban development rather than agricultural land in the study area.

4.2 Age Structured of the Respondents Based on Five Intervals

Source: - field survey 2021

Fig 4.1 Age Structure

As indicated from the above graph the majority of respondents are found in the age group size of
38-48 age and 28-38, while the remaining were in the age group above 48 and 18-28 which
constituted 56.7%, 20%,16.7% and 6.7% respectively.

4.2 The Proportion of Farmers Affected by the Expansion of the Town for
Selected Kebeles
Urban expansion was not equally affected all peoples with in kebeles. The following pie chart
shows that the proportion of affected farmers by urban expansion in each kebeles.

Source: - field survey 2021

Fig4.2 The Proportion of Affected Farmer in Each Kebele

The above diagram depicts that urban expansion was more expanded towards kebele 04 and it
affects 161 farmers and incorporated 283 hectares of agricultural land.

4.3 Trends of Urban Expansion in the Study Areas

According to the municipal offices of MekaneSelam town administrator the town has total areas
of 1500 Hectares before 2004. But now, it covers 4873.8 hectares. This is due to the
reclassification of rural land into urban areas for residential, investment, industry, economic and
social purposes.

Causes of Urban Expansion in the Study Area

The causes of urban expansion in the study areas were the cumulative effects of population
growth, the policy the government that created suitable ground for urban development, rural-
urban migration and flow of investment.
Migration in the study areas were flows from their origin towards urban areas, because of many
reasons. First when farmers did not afford themselves and their family members depended on
only cultivating their plot of land, they were preferred to migrate and live in urban centers as
daily laborers.

Second many farmers were preferred to live in urban areas as their economy were increased and
sought of better living standards. On the other hand investment plays a major role for the
expansion of the town. According to the information obtained from the municipal offices of
MekaneSelamtown, various investments were obtained own role for the expansion of the town
horizontally. Generally, the flow of investment, industry, and rural urban migration were
accelerated the expansion of the town to the peripheral areas (www.ehow.com/info-cause) and
consequence of urbanization. Htm/.Accessed, May, 2014)

4.5 Effects of Urban Expansion

4.5.1 Positive Effects

As the table depicts below 33.3% of the respondents replied that urban expansion were brought
various importance. They responded that urban expansion helped them to have additional
sources of income by having small shops, created to market, access to light, access to pure water,
and access to health care, access to job opportunity and different construction.

Some respondents replied that urban expansion plays a major role by making them urban dweller
since the expansion of the town towards the peripheral areas have got a chance to be
incorporated in urban centers and benefited to exercise urban based activities.

Urban has its own positive and negative effects on the surrounding farmers. The following table
depicts the effects of urban expansion in the study areas.

Table 4.2 Respondent’s Response towards the Effects of Urban Expansion

Effects of Mekaneselam town Responses Percentages

expansion
Positive 10 33.3%
 Access to market
Access to light
Access to pure water
Access to health care
Negative
Economic impact
Environmental impact
Loss of agricultural land
Total
Source:- field survey2021
5 16.7%
2 6.7%
2 6.7%
1 3.3%
20 66.6%
6 20%
4 13.3%
10 33.3%
30 100%

4.5.2 Negative Effects

4.5.2.1 Economic Impacts

As the table depicts above 20% of the respondents responded that urban expansion did not have
significance for their life, rather it brought many problems such as it affects their income by
taking their farm land (permanent property), grazing land, trees (eucalyptus) and reduce the
productivity of the farmers. It is also reduce a rabble and grazing land which indirectly affects
the animal resources of the farmers. In order to understand the effect of urban expansion on
agricultural land, it is important to access the status farmers land after 2006.

The following table shows the land status of the farmer

Table 4.3 land status of farmers after 2006

Farm land Quantity Percentage

Crop land 17 56.7
Crop and grazing land 9 30
Grazing land 3 10
Eucalyptus tree land 1 3.3
Total 30 100
Source:-field survey 2020
As the table depicts above after 2006E.C 56.7% of the respondents were lost their crop land,
30% of them were lost both grazing and crop lands. The remaining 10% and 3.3 % of the
respondents was lost grazing land and the eucalyptus tree land respectively.

As the table depicts above the dominant land taken by urban expansion was the crop land which
accounts 56.7% and 30% of the land was used for both grazing crop activities. From this we can
conclude that the urban expansion affects the income of the individual farmers in particular and
agricultural sector in general.

4.5.2.2 Environmental Impact

As the table shown above, 13.3% of the respondents were responded that, a lot of environmental
problems were happened due to urban expansion. Currently, farmers grazing and farm land were
replaced by construction house, investment and other activities. This are created unpleasant noise
and odor unwanted voice that emanated from music, vehicles and machines for the people living
there.

This research observed, there were waste disposal at the periphery of the town, since the waste
were not properly dumped in the space provided and the odor of the liquid wastes and the poor
management of solid wastes are affecting the health status of the urban dwellers and farmer
found around there to plough.

The following figures shows the generation of wastes because of the expansion of the town at
periphery.
Fig4.4 the generation of wastes at the periphery of the town (kebele 01)

Generally, as we observed and the information obtained from municipal officials and
respondents before 2006E.C the physical environment at the edge of the town were used for
agriculture, grazing land and other uses but now it changed in to residential and commercial
uses. These inter led to the regeneration of different wastes which affects the health status of the
surrounding people.

4.5.2.3 Loss of Agricultural Land

Urban expansion was the main cause for displacement of farmers from their agricultural land.
33.3% of the respondents responded that they were loss their prime agricultural land. The
agricultural land at the periphery was consumed by different urban activities such as the
construction of residential house.

To cross check the researcher observed and attacked the following plates to what extent the
horizontal expansion of town was incorporated the agricultural land.

Table 4.4;- Town Administrator Interview Towards Loss of Agricultural Land in Hectare
 Loss of agricultural land in Quantity Percentage
hectare
0.02-0.5 14 46.7
0.5-1 3 10
1-2 .8 26.7
2-2.5 5 16.6
Total 30 100
Source: interview from town administrator 2020

As the table depicts above 46.7% of the respondents were lost 0.02-0.5 hectares, 26.7% of them
were lost 1-2 hectares. The remaining 16.6% and 10% of the respondents were lost 2-2.5
hectares and 0.5-1 hectares respectively.

This situation directly affect income and over all livelihood of the farmers at the periphery.
Farmers were not voluntary to leave their farm land because they considered it as permanent
property. This implies that even if the farm land since the government were required the land for
social economic activities.

On the country, the agriculture and municipal office the town replied that, urban expansion were
very important for farmers if they were sufficiently compensated by the conserved body. Since
their live were change by using more advanced agricultural technologies, produce surplus
products, and engaged in trade activities the local government give composition for the affected
farmers by measuring the land incorporated in to urban areas in hectares and taking the
dominants crop which were produced around that area and take the three year average products
per hectares and multiply it by the current price of that product give for the farmers.

Some respondents replied that compensation were not effectively applicable because of the
municipal office have not potential for giving financial compensation.

This revealed that almost all of the farmers were faced to leave their farm land without enough
compensation and some farmers were left without compensation. Hence, the respondents dislike
the expansion of urban centers to peripheral area due to insufficient compensation, absence of
awareness creation about the benefit of urban expansion and how to utilize the compensated
money properly. Besides, they replied that as compared to the property what they had before the
compensation were not proportional to what they were produced.
Table 4.5: -Respondents’ Responses Towards Compensation Utilization

Utilization of compensation Quantity Percentage

by the farmers
Dairy farming 15 50
Building houses and fulfill 12 36.7
services
Beef farming and by buying 4 13.3
farm land
Total 30 100
Source:-field survey2020

As the table depicts above, 50% of the respondents were used the compensation for dairy
farming activities, 36.7% of the respondents used for building houses and fulfilling of other
services like water, light and the remaining 13.3% of the respondents used for both beef farming
and buying other farm land temporary for ploughing.

CHAPTER FIVE

5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Conclusion
In Ethiopia, like any other developing countries of the world; there is high rate of urban
expansion. During the past decades, Ethiopia has shown a decline in the level of urban growth.
This was due to the past policy of political governance, lack of infrastructures like road, and
other factors. However, after some years urban centers in Ethiopia are highly expanding. This is
the result of the current government policy that gives emphasis for the development of urban
areas.

Horizontal expansion at the periphery of the study area, especially (kebele 01, kebele 03, kebele,
04) had positive and negative effects. The positive effects were access to market, access to light,
access to pure water, construction road and access to health care.

Even though, the expansion of cities has positive effects, it has also adversely affected the rural
peripheral areas in different aspects, especially in relation to the displacement of farmers from
their agricultural land. In this regard, 300 farmers lost 732.4 hectares of land because of urban
expansion, and this situation prone the life of the farmers with their families. Environmental
degradation and the generation of wastes were also observed at the periphery of the town.

All in all, as the population of any given country is increasing, cities must grow spatially to the
peripheral areas to accommodate more people and bring those effects mentioned above.

5.2 Recommendation

Based on the above findings, the following recommendations are being made:-

The farmers did not get enough compensation as they compared with they were produced from
their farmland before. Therefore, the concerned body should give enough compensation for
affected farmers since enough compensation for affected farmers since enough compensation can
create better living standards for the farmers.

• There were lacks of awareness by the farmers regarding to the positive effects of urban
expansion. Hence, the concerned body should create awareness regarding to the benefit
of urban expansion since these awareness creation should avoid the negative perception
of farmers towards urban expansion.

• As the finding depicts the farmers were economically weak after they lost their farm land.
Hence the municipal office of MekaneSelam town should solve the problems of income
through training farmers by creating different job opportunities.

• There were the construction of residential houses and different investments at the
periphery which consumes agricultural land. Curve the severity of urban expansion on
 agricultural land, the residential houses, investment and any industrial activities.
Therefore, the government should build residential houses, investment and any industrial
activities. Therefore, the government should build residential houses and other activities
on non-fertile land. This should help the farmers maximize their agricultural productivity
and protect them from income related problems.

• Environmental problems were observed in the analysis part. Therefore, the sanitation and
beautification offices of the town should design and implement proper wastes
management program and protect the farmers from sanitation related problems.

• Leap frog development were observed in the town. Hence, vertical expansion of
buildings should be applied to increase the supply of land and to minimize the lost
agricultural land at periphery.

• Lacks of awareness how to use the compensated money by the farmer were one problem..

REFERENCES
A.Goerner and et.al (2005) lake Beseka is a national constraint

Balchin.PN.Isaak.D. and Chen. J(2008). Urban economics a global perspective. Great Britain
wales: palgrave.

Balchin.P.N.Bull. G.H. and kieve.J.J (2009), urban land economics and public policy (5th ed)
London. Macmillan. Press.Ltd.

Brook field and Byron 2009, the growth of presidency towns Rutgers-The state university.
Department Geography 2009 (unpublished paper).

Brown (2014), GIS and Remote sensing approach is used to analayiz the phenomina of
agricultural land.

Gugle (2012). Urban Sprawal may benefit to the environment

Gugler.J,ed (2012). The Urban Transformation of developing world. Oxford university press.
 Kingsley Davis (2008) World urbanization: Basic data for cities, countries, and regions,
Institute of International Studies, University of California viii, 318.

Kristien(2011), urbanization refers to the social shift from agricultural rural life style to the
city.

London. Cernea. M.M. (2012) Urban Settlement and forced population relocation in
Mathur.H.MandCernea. M (7th ed), dev’t, displacement and resettlement focuses on Asian
experiences, Delhi, Vixes publishing. House. Pvt.Ltd.

Todaro.(2011), Foeken, and Mwabgi.(2009), and Mohan (2012), urbanization in urban

growth a central probem in the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural use.

Tegegne (2007) towards urbanization policy in Ethiopia proceeding of the second annual
conference A.A.

UN.(2012) . CSA . cerial.(2012), population growth is case of urban expansion

UN – Habitat (2014): Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements General Assemblyresolutions

51/177 of December 2014.

World Bank OUPI FINFINNE(2008) and (2012) urbanization can yeild important
socialbenefit improving access to public service.
 www.ehow.com/info-cause and consequences of urbanization .Htm/. Accessed, May 201

A.Goerner and et.al (2005) lake Beseka is a national constraint

Balchin.PN.Isaak.D. and Chen. J(2008). Urban economics a global perspective. Great Britain
wales: palgrave.
 Balchin.P.N.Bull. G.H. and kieve.J.J (2009), urban land economics and public policy (5th ed)
London. Macmillan. Press.Ltd.

Brook field and Byron 2009, the growth of presidency towns Rutgers-The state university.
Department Geography 2009 (unpublished paper).

Brown (2014), GIS and Remote sensing approach is used to analayiz the phenomina of
agricultural land.

Gugle (2012). Urban Sprawal may benefit to the environment

Gugler.J,ed (2012). The Urban Transformation of developing world. Oxford university press.

Kingsley Davis (2008) World urbanization: Basic data for cities, countries, and regions,
Institute of International Studies, University of California viii, 318.

Kristien(2011), urbanization refers to the social shift from agricultural rural life style to the
city.

London. Cernea. M.M. (2012) Urban Settlement and forced population relocation in
Mathur.H.MandCernea. M (7th ed), dev’t, displacement and resettlement focuses on Asian
experiences, Delhi, Vixes publishing. House. Pvt.Ltd.

Todaro.(2011), Foeken, and Mwabgi.(2009), and Mohan (2012), urbanization in urban

growth a central probem in the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural use.

Tegegne (2007) towards urbanization policy in Ethiopia proceeding of the second annual
conference A.A.

UN.(2012) . CSA . cerial.(2012), population growth is case of urban expansion

UN – Habitat (2014): Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements General Assemblyresolutions

51/177 of December 2014.
 World Bank OUPI FINFINNE(2008) and (2012) urbanization can yeild important
socialbenefit improving access to public service.

www.ehow.com/info-cause and consequences of urbanization .Htm/. Accessed, May 2014.

MEKDELA AMBA UNIVERSITY

COLLAGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Questionnaires Prepared For Respondents

Dear Respondents the objective of this questionnaire is to collect information about the impact of
urban expansion in agricultural land in Mekaneselam town For only academic purpose.

Part I Back ground characteristics of respondents related questions

Therefore put your choice in the provided box in the form of (x)

1. Sex male female

2. Age 18-28 28-38 38-48 48 and above

3. Education of level

Illiterate primary education completed (1-8)

Secondary education completed (9-10)

Preparatory completed (11-12)

Collage or diploma complated

Degree and above

4. Martial status single married divorsed

Part II Urban expansion and its empacts related questions

1. For how long did you live in Metehara town?

<10 years 10 years-15 years >15 years

2. Did you observe any urban expansion in this town?

Yes No

3. Have you lost any agricultural land by the case of urban expansion?

Yes No

4. If your answer is yes for question number 3 which type of land you lost?

Dary farming

Building houses and fulfil services

Beef farming and buying farm land

5. Is ther any case that aggravates urban expansion?

Yes No

6. If the answer is yes for question number five which is the main case still existing to expantion
of urban to agricultural land?

Counters urbanization

Rural to urban migration

Expansion of industry

Construction of modern transport root

7. Do you think that the expansion of towns has a negative effect?

Yes No

8. if the answer is yes in question number 7 which effects is faced on the livilihood on the
community?

loss of bio diversity

Loss of agricultural land

Uncontroled urban weast

Conflict between people in the case of land owner

9. Did the government give appropirate to compansation for affected farmer by expansion?

Yes No

10. If the answer is yes in question 9 which types of compansation is given by the government?

Transfer farmer setlment from thir orginal place and create other opportunity

Giving any other land to use agricultural activites

Giving money

11. Did you think that urban expansion has a benefit for farmers?

Yes No

Part III questions for agricultural Bearue management

1. what are the main causes for urban expansion in the study area?

2. How urban expansion affect the surrounding agriculture or economic in the study area?
3. How it increase through out the year expansion of urban in Metehara town?

Questionary for Secondary data

1. Map of the town if availabel?

2. Trandes of urban expansion throghout the year 2000 E.C

1920 E.C

2003 E.C

2004 E

2009 E.C

3. The total area coverage of the town in km2?