Urban Expansion and its’ Effects on the Livelihoods of Peripheral Farming Community in Burayu Town, Oromia Special Zone, Oromia National Regional State; Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to identify the effects of urban expansion in terms of livelihood assets of the displaced peripheral farming community around Burayu Town. To achieve the objectives, the study used both primary and secondary data. The primary data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, observation, focus groups discussions and secondary data were collected from different journals, reports and book, and the study involved both quantitative and qualitative approaches in data analysis. Purposive sampling procedures were used to select two sample villages and 342 respondents were selected by using systematic random sampling. The finding of the study indicated that urban expansion program around Burayu town was done without participation of the community; the expropriated households did not have opportunity to deal on the amount and kinds of compensation and calculating the value of assets. The compensation package provided so far could not properly support the livelihoods of the dislocated farming community around the town. urban expansion, displacement and compensation program was not effective in the area, to adequately aware and involve the community and compensation was in cash only and amount involving, was determined by the government itself, skill development and other training and follow up after displacement was not applied in the area. Livelihoods alternative of households after the displacement of their land for the urban expansion finding indicated that 7.2% of them agriculture, 30.99% of them turned in to the non- agricultural activities, 15.7% of them both (agriculture & non agriculture) and half of them (49.2%) no permanent work. The urban peripheral communities around Burayu town are suffering with various socio-economic challenges due to inappropriate implementation of the urban expansion programs. Accordingly, local farmers’ livelihood, social relations and cultural practices were at danger. The study recommended that, implementation of sustainable urban land management practices through awareness creation and training, by sufficient allocation of budget for compensation for displaced farming community, rehabilitate social organization and strengthening the available institutions, arrange income generating packages and skill training and afford alternative compensations including cash and alternative land