Assessing the Impacts of Expropriation and Compensation on Livelihood of Farmers: The Case of Peri-Urban Debre Markos, Ethiopia

Tilahun Dires, Derjew Fentie, Yeneneh Hunie, Worku Nega, Mulugeta Tenaw, Sayeh Kassaw Agegnehu and Reinfried Mansberger
Additional contact information
Tilahun Dires: Institute of Land Administration, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos 269, Ethiopia
Derjew Fentie: College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos 269, Ethiopia
Yeneneh Hunie: Institute of Land Administration, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos 269, Ethiopia
Worku Nega: Institute of Land Administration, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos 269, Ethiopia
Mulugeta Tenaw: Institute of Land Administration, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos 269, Ethiopia
Sayeh Kassaw Agegnehu: Institute of Land Administration, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos 269, Ethiopia
Reinfried Mansberger: Institute of Geomatics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, A-1190 Vienna, Austria

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: In Ethiopia, expropriation and compensation measures have become a great concern due to horizontal urban expansion and development induced projects. Especially in peri-urban areas, the livelihood of farmers is affected by expropriation without fair and comparable compensation. This paper investigates the impacts of expropriation and compensation activities on livelihood of peri-urban smallholders taking Debre Markos Town as a case study area. Mixed research methods were employed. Quantitative data were gathered using a structured questionnaire and by interviewing about 100 smallholders. Qualitative data were collected in focus group discussions and by analyzing legal documents. The analysis showed a high trend of expropriation without fair and appropriate compensation as result of ignoring legal procedures of expropriation and compensation. Expropriated farmers also complained that they did not get any support from the government to use compensation money properly for further investments. Due to incomparable compensation and lack of advice, peri-urban farmers faced multi-faceted problems, such as food insecurity and social and family disintegration. The government has to enable families of expropriated households to earn suitable livelihood, which could be achieved by fair compensation and appropriate guidance.

Keywords: compensation; expropriation; peri-urban farmers; livelihood (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/6/614/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/6/614/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:6:p:614-:d:570824

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().