A THESIS SUBMITTED TO DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES COLLAGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES, SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES ARBAMINCH

Abstract

Urbanization at this time is at a growing trend seen throughout the world, mostly at large rate in developing countries. Similarly most cities and towns in Ethiopia are becoming expanded towards the neighboring peripheral farmers. This study was conducted in Degollo town Jamma Woreda,,South Wello zone Amhara Region, where urban expansion passed a serious impact on the livelihoods of the peripheral farmers from the year 2017-2021.The study focused specifically on evaluating the effects of the town expansion on farmers in terms of income, the compensation process and their future life style.Therefore,120 affected households by the town expansion were selected through random sampling technique to explain the impact and also (4) officials from different offices (2)from Kebele agricultural development agents,(1)from the towns municipality office and(1)from woreda rural agricultural and development offices were purposefully taken for key informant interview while(6)respondents from the affected farmers were selected for interview. Therefore, primary and secondary data were collected by using different data collection methods.The collected data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The result showed that Degollo town rapidly expanded during the last five years as a result of the need for new lands for different purposes. This expansion of Degollo town affects the livelihoods of the peripheral farmers. The town expansion has made the loss of 51.35ha of farm and graze lands. The compensation fee on the other hand was not satisfactory. The study also found out that the compensation was not fair to sustain livelihoods of the farmers. Therefore, the government should give priority to a detailed potential effect assessment study should be carried out to minimize the adverse effects of urban expansion.