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.