ASSESSMENT OF DETERMINANTS OF RURAL TO URBAN MIGRATION AND ITS PERCEIVED EFFECTS ON MIGRANT SENDING HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOOD: THE CASE OF CHENCHA ZURIA WOREDA, GAMO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Ethiopia is least urbanized country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Rural-urban migrations become growing phenomena. Young people comprise a considerably large share of population. This study assesses determinants of rural to urban migration and its perceived effects on migrant sending household livelihood in case of Chencha Zuria Woreda, Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Cross sectional data collected by employing household survey to collect quantitative data and qualitative data collection techniques; focus group discussion and key-informant interview. Quantitative data was collected from 120 sample household through household survey by using semi-structured questionnaire administered through interview schedule on 95 randomly selected migrants’ and 25 purposively selected non-migrants’ household heads. Descriptive statistics was employed to identify migration status rural-urban migration. Binary logistic regression models were employed to identify the factors affecting rural-urban migration. Descriptive statistics result shows that the male is more migrating than female counterparts and positive perception on migration decision of household heads. The binary logistic regression result revealed that rural-urban youth migration is significantly affected by land size, household size (labour ratio), at less than 1% significant level holding other variables constant by which accelerating migration decision on household level than non-migrant household and age, education, electric access, credit access were 5% significance level significantly affect rural-urban migration in the study area. Taking push factors on migrants livelihood to rural-urban migration into account, GOs and NGOs should pay due attention to promote rural on-farm, off-farm and non- farm job opportunities and rural credit access to reduce rural-urban migration in the study area.