IMPACT OF RAPID POPULATION GROWTH ON RURAL FARMLAND FRAGMENTATION AND LAND INTENSIFICATION IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA꞉ THE CASE OF ESSARA WOREDA, DAWURO ZONE

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the Sub-Saharan African Countries known for its fast population growth which results in rural farmland fragmentation and land intensification. The objective of this paper is to investigate the impacts of rapid population growth on the rural farmland fragmentation and land use intensification in the case of Essara Woreda, Dawuro Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The data used in this study were collected from 119 samples household heads of the four rural Kebele identified via simple random sampling. The methods of data analysis used in the study were descriptive statistics such as percentage and frequency. The findings reveal that there illiteracy is one of the key causes for rapid population growth which lead smaller farmland holding per household in the district. Also, the findings show that being involved in family planning is the best option for reducing to the future rapid population growth. Moreover, the rapid growth of population has resulted in shortage of farmland, and fragmentation through time and which in turn affects small holder agriculture and sustainability of rural livelihoods. Thus, the result calls for further interventions in family planning to limit the rapid population growth, intensification agricultural production and enhancing non-farm activities.