Rural –Urban Migration and Subsequent Land Management Practices in Moshi Rural District, Tanzania

Abstract

This paper examined the impact of rural urban migration on land restoration and
management in Moshi rural District. The paper is based on the study carried out in
Mkolowonyi, Tema and Otaruni villages. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques
were employed in collecting, managing and analysing data. Questionnaire were used
to collect quantitative data while focus group discussion, indepth  interviews and direct
observation were employed to collect  qualitative data.  A total number of 100
householdswhich representing 5% of 1819 household swere was selected as a sample.
Also  5 key informants and about 17 members were purposefully selected for 3 focus
group discussions.  Descriptive and thematic data analysis techniques were employed.
Findings show that rural urban migration has both positive and negative impacts on
land management. It reduces pressure on land resource, and improves land
management practises through funds provided by the migrants, employing temporary
labourers and introducing new crop varieties. The study recommends that rural - urban
migration should be seen as an opportunity instead of a problem. Thus there is a need
to encourage positive linkage between rural migrants and counterparts in rural areas in
order to boost community development.

Keywords:  Migration, environment, impact, rural-urban.