ASSESSING FERTILE LAND EXPROPRIATION IN PERI-URBAN AREAS: THE STUDY OF ADIGRAT TOWN, TIGRAY REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study examines the primary drivers of land expropriation in Adigrat Town, identifying infrastructure development as the leading cause (45.45%), followed closely by the establishment of educational and healthcare facilities. The legal framework governing these expropriations is rooted in the land regulation system, which accounts for 60.38% of the authority exercised. Although land is predominantly expropriated for commercial, administrative, and infrastructural purposes, the process is often characterized by arbitrariness (35%). Compensation is provided in only 30% of cases, and 43.3% of respondents perceive it as unjust. Property value assessments largely focus on current productivity (36.36%), and while affected individuals are typically notified six months in advance (65%), the compensation usually fails to cover the associated social, environmental, and economic costs (40%). The consequences are substantial, including the loss of rural farmland (63.63%), decreased agricultural productivity, unsustainable urban growth, and high unemployment rates among displaced farmers (each approximately 61.8%). Following expropriation, a staggering 71.81% of affected individuals experience unemployment, while only 12.2% become self-employed. Although 49.39% relocate within the area, a substantial portion (25.15%) move to other parts of the town. Initial reactions are predominantly negative, with 32.12% expressing strong frustration. This research underscores the urgent need for reforms in the expropriation process to ensure fair compensation and sustainable development practices that protect agricultural livelihoods and promote community welfare.