Rural Youth Access to Arable Land in Ethiopia: The Case of Arsi Negele of Oromiya Region

Abstract

Access to land is also an important issue for the majority of Ethiopian people who, one way or the other, depend on agricultural production for their income and subsistence. Historically, as in contemporary Ethiopia, the issue of rural land is primarily a political or social question. (Samuel, 2006). With the growing population of the youth access to land is becoming crucial national issue to Ethiopia. Rural youth are a productive age group in rural society. Their engagement in agriculture can contribute a lot in enhancing productivity rural economy. However, the challenges of accessing to arable land are limiting the full participation of rural youth in agricultural productivity and transformation of rural economy. This study examines challenges of access to arable land by rural youth. It explores land access mechanisms used by rural youth, opportunities, challenges and problems they faced in accessing arable land in rural areas. The study focused on rural youth and involves their family head for the sake of full information on issue related to land and their family members. About 142 households those who have youth members were selected through probability proportional to size sampling method. Concerned officials at district level were also participated in giving information on current situation of arable land access and rural youth. The study revealed that large family size, high price of rental land, socio-cultural factors, small land size hold by their family, and informal agreement with land owners are the major challenges affecting arable land access in the study area. It was recommended that beside agricultural activities it is better to create; other options of economic activities, awareness on harmful traditional practices that leads to large family size, reconsider rural land policy in relation to youth.