Seasonal Migration and Rural Livelihoods in Ethiopia

This book aims at examining the opportunities and challenges of seasonal migration of labour on the livelihoods of migrant people in Ethiopia. Seasonal migration of labour in the study area is undertaken by many rural households so as to diversify households' portfolios and reduce risk and vulnerability. The remittances have served rural households to supplement their income from agriculture and alleviate the problem of land shortage. They are positively contributing to the development of the recipient area by supplying cheap labour. On the other hand, they exert pressure on social services in the town and pollute the environment. Shortage of farmland, debt, lack of viable non-farm activities, and the desire to earn additional income so as to supplement agricultural income are the major reasons for seasonal migration of labour. Social networks and information flow are also important factors in migration. Rather than viewing it as a livelihood option of the rural poor which contributes to reducing poverty and improving the livelihoods of the poor, migration is still perceived negatively, and there has been less awareness towards it.