CAUSES OF RURAL TO URBAN YOUTH MIGRATION AND ITS EFFECTS ON MIGRANT HOUSE HOLDS: KAMBA ZURIAWOREDA GAMO ZONE, SOUTH ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the determinants of rural to urban youth migration and its effects on the area of origin (in the Kamba zuria woreda). In order to carry out this study, both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed. Instruments like interview and FGD were employed. To this end, a total sample size of 247 migrants household and non- migrant’s household were selected through systematic sampling technique for the questionnaire survey. Thus, the data obtained from the participants were analysed through descriptive statistics and binary logits regression. In addition, qualitative data were collected and analysed to triangulate the quantitative data in descriptive forms. The result of this study reveals that most of the youth migrants in Kamba zuria woreda were dominantly young of aged 15-29, single male, at the level of primary education and they were from male headed households. The results of binary logit model indicate that, variables in this study were significantly, affects rural to urban youth migration. The positive effects of youth migration on the area of origin is an increase in household income, technology and knowledge transfer, remittance inflow, creation of job opportunity, less pressure over scarce land adoption modern agriculture technology whereas negative effects were loss of the most productive labour, loss of the better educated youth members, create household dependency on remittance, marital breakdown and increased income inequality. Besides, the effects of migration on areas of origin is concerned, it is found that as a whole youth migration is less efficient in changing the lives of the migrants’ family at origin; rather, it creates labour burden for some migrants households. Based on the results, the recommendations needed for integrated rural development strategy and program should explicitly target rural youth to create viable on-farm and off-farm employment opportunities, which are productive, decent and in line with youth aspirations