Factors for Land Use Dynamics and Socio-Economic Challenges of Rural Farmers in Dembecha Woreda, West Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

This study assessed major driving factors for land use change and analyzed the socio-economic challenges of rural farmers resulting from land use change in Dembecha Woreda which is one of the Woredas of West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions, case studies, and observation methods were employed to gather the primary data. In this study, thirty-seven purposively selected participants were involved. Secondary data were also used from different sources to complement the primary data. Qualitative data analysis was employed to analyze the data gathered by qualitative data collecting methods. The study found that rapid population growth, poverty, failure of land use policies and rules, and the expansion of globalization are the major driving factors for land use change in the study area. Moreover, it increases the expansion of inadequate development activities such as plantation of environmentally unfriendly trees like eucalyptus plant, informal and illegal rent of holding land, expansion of illegal houses, and unstipulated land investment activities. Thus, rural farmers in the study area are facing many socio-economic challenges like dispute, disposition of women and elders, unemployment, migration, loss of cultural values, over exploitation of natural resources, shortage of food crops, scarcity of animal products, and scarcity of clean drinking water. Therefore, this study recommended that all concerned bodies should contribute to promote environmentally friendly sustainable and transformable agricultural activities for rural farmers and insuring equal and fair land use system to reduce the social and economic challenges of the rural people.