Migration and Rural-Urban Linkages in Ethiopia

egion was high and was not impeded by ethnic and language-based administration as themovement involved predominately people of the same ethnic background moving acrossadministrative zones and wereda. However, it is difficult to draw a conclusion on thistrend since there were no identical and comparable surveys in pre-EPRDF periods.2.9. The consequences of labour migrationMigration can have both negative and positive consequences at community, householdand individual levels. Based on our qualitative studies, we present here the experiencesreported by migrants in our research sites.(a) Community level – The effect of migration at community level can be seen fromboth the sending and host communities perspectives. Most of the case studies showed thatthe presence of long-term migrants in Kolfe and Shashemene areas has helped the flow ofinformation, transfer of material resources and support to their respective areas of origin.Long term migrants from Gurage, Gamo and Kembata areas, who currently live in Kolfeand Shashemene research sites, indicated that they contributed cash for local fundraisingcommittees entrusted with the responsibility of mobilising community resources for theconstruction of schools and rural roads in their respective areas of origin. Although theyare few in number, some migrants, notably from Gurage areas, returned with resources toinstall grain mills, open kiosks and butcher shops. The purchase and supply of ploughoxen and farm implements by some Gurage migrants, although directly provided tosending households, may ease the shortage of plough oxen and benefit the resources oflocal communities. A few Gojjam migrants who live in Kolfe also mentioned that theycontributed cash towards church construction in Gojjam. However, the amount of theircash contribution is not large in relation to the cost required for the church constructionwork.On the other hand, the migration of young rural, less skilled and less literate people fromdifferent destinations to urban areas of Kolfe and Shashemene is viewed by long–terminhabitants as a reason for the increasing shortage of houses, poor condition of toilets andsanitation facilities, exacerbated unemployment situation, increased trends of petty crime,prostitution and begging. Even so, most of the long-term inhabitants believe that thecontinuous flow of rural unskilled labour serves the domestic labour needs of Kolfe orShashemene communities. It would have been more expensive to afford housemaids,nannies, guards and craftsmen if there were fewer migrants.(b) Household level – In all the studied rural sites, seasonal migration has been found tobe the key strategy in reducing the vulnerability of poor rural households to seasonal foodinsecurity and high risk of food shortages. Most of the rural households mentioned thatthe seasonal migrations of household members has offered them non-farm jobs in the offseasonsand reduced the number of people to be fed. They pointed out that the presenceof seasonal and permanent migration from rural to urban areas could be viewed asproviding a safety net mechanism for poor individuals and rural households to cope with63