Abstract

This research project aims to investigate the causes and consequences of rural-urban migration in the Fako Division. Rural-urban migration is a phenomenon that has been on the rise in many developing countries, including Cameroon. The Fako Division, located in the southwest region of Cameroon, has also experienced this trend. However, little research has been conducted on the topic in this region.

The study will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The quantitative data will be collected through surveys administered to a sample of migrants and non-migrants from rural areas. The qualitative data will be obtained through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with key informants, including community leaders, local government officials, and employers in the urban areas.

The findings of the study will shed light on the factors driving rural-urban migration in the Fako Division, including economic, social, and environmental factors. The study will also examine the consequences of this trend, particularly on the rural areas left behind by the migrants.

The study will provide insights into the challenges faced by both the migrants and the communities they leave behind, and will inform policy decisions aimed at mitigating the negative impacts of rural-urban migration.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Rural-urban migration has been historically connected with industrialization, urbanization and economic growth (Bhattacharya, 1993). Rural-urban migration has contributed to half of the urban population growth in Africa in 1960s and 70s which accounted for about 25% of urban growth in 1980s and 90s (Waddington &Sabates-Wheeler, 2003; Adepoju, 1977; Lall et al, 2006) as cited in(BirhanuMelesse&Dr.KavithaNachimuthu, 2017).

The rural-urban migration trend in Fako division can be explained by a number of so-called push and pull factors (Kunz, 1973). Ezra and Kiros (2001) summarize the main push factors in Fako division as being overpopulation, famine, poverty, land scarcity, governmental agricultural policies, lack of agricultural resources and the decrease in the production and productivities of agriculture, political persecution influences and others.

As an addition to these push factors, many rural civilians were pulled to Fako division urban areas in the post-revolution period as a result of the development of these areas into more important business and political centers (Berhanu& White, 2000) as cited in (Fransen&Kuschiminder, 2009).

Brauw and Mueller, (2011:3) most research studies reveals rural-urban migration in Fako division is a suitable mechanism to improve own and families’ living standards and to relax land constraints in the rural areas,(Brauw and Mueller, 2011:3)as cited in (BirhanuMelesse & Dr.KavithaNachimuthu, 2017).

Rural-urban migration brings pressure on urban housing and the environment as migrants arrive from rural areas they live on the streets and makeshift sub-standard accommodation before establishing themselves. The high rate of population growth in the urban centers also lessens the quality of life because it: destroys resources, such as water and forests, needed for sustenance. Rural-urban migration leads to overpopulation of the urban centers thus encouraging and raising the rate of crime in the society. Rural-urban migration also slows down the pace of development of the rural areas (ZainabGimba, 2007).

Excessive urbanization leads to high rates of city congestion, crime and poor infrastructure such as proper sewage systems, clean drinking water and other amenities. There is also the problem of chronic unemployment which is also a key cause of crime, as people need to find ways of putting food on their tables (McCatty, 2004).

According to Stiglitz (1974), unemployment in developing countries like those in East Africa is a result of rural to urban migration motivated by the high wage differential cited in (MASANORI AMANO, 1983). Noveria (1997), on the other hand, states that the major causes of rising unemployment in urban areas in LDCs are education expansion, urbanization which results in rural to urban migration, population growth and job aspiration as cited in (AbebeFikreKassa, 2011).

In the Fako division case, the WB (2007) indicates that the potential causes of urban unemployment include the increasing number of the youth labor force, the rising internal migration and literacy rate(Nzinga H. Broussard &TsegayGebrekidan, 2012).

Cameroon isamong the  populous country in Africa following Nigeria. Despite the remarkable economic growth recorded recently, Cameroon still remains to be one of the poorest countries in Africa. In urban areas, which accounts for less than 20% of the population, unemployment is the most serious problem while landlessness and draught are common problems in rural Fako division. In light of these problems migration both within the country and abroad is considered as a viable mechanism to get out of poverty(World Bank, 2010).

The aim of this study was to examine the challenges and opportunities of rural to urban migration of youth immigrants and to assess the causes and consequences of youth migration in relation to economic, social, cultural, infrastructural, sanitation and services burden and pressure resulted from these migrants on Fako division. The study was aimed at assessing the contribution of migrants for Fako division in terms of economy. It was identified as that migrants are supplying their labor force, knowledge and skill for emerging industries and business companies.

1.2.Statement of the problem

Rural-urban migration has become frightening as more people fleeing into the urban centers from the rural areas. The reason for migration may vary from individual condition like educational failure, either through early drop out or failure in exams, or those who managed to complete their education but could not find any job.

There is some evidence that small plots of farmland, which are inadequate to support a family, are a driver of migration (World Bank, 2010). For women and girls, there is evidence that early marriage and sexual abuse are drivers of migration (World Bank 2010) cited in (AdamneshAtnafu, 2014).

As explained by (De Waal, 1991: Ezra &Kiros, 2001) urbanization in Fako division is growing due to increasing trend of rural-urban migration that puts pressure on urban infrastructure and resources. Evidences shows that internal flows in Fako division are currently larger than external flows, but the exact number of people who migrated internally is unknown citing (TesfatsionDominiko, 2016).

It is known that a lot of people especially youths are increasing in Fako division from time to time. These peoples or youths are migrated to this town from different rural areas of the country. These migrants have different backgrounds at their place of origin and purpose at destination. Some of them travel with the ambition of seeking better life in the town or finding better job opportunities  and others are to escape from local administration due to political strife, or they may be suspected committing crime in their former area, as well as family disagreement.

The excessive flow of migrants to town increases homeless people which create large slum area and shanty towns, as new migrants find it difficult to get proper housing. Some of the migrants desire to have their own house in the town through illegal settlement and encourage illegal construction of houses that exacerbate the lawlessness and land grab in the town.

These challenges may impose pressure on urban housing and the environment, high rate of population growth in the town may leads to lessens the quality of life, generate security problem, overpopulation encourages crime in the town, competition for employment opportunities may leads to conflict. There will be difficult for the town to provide basic services for this unmanaged increasing number of population in the Fako division.

The increase of migrants in the town has the potential of intensifying conflict with local peoples as well as among ethnic groups. The reason behind this assumption is the possibility of emergence of such an environment in which low-income native-born groups regard the migrants as competing for jobs and resources. They claim that increasing number of migrants in the town may destroy the local community’s identity and cultures.

Previous study by Fransen & Kuschiminder, (2009) rural-urban migration in Fako division is continuing to occur at high levels as people seek new opportunities in the city to escape rural poverty. Fako division`s urban centers have high unemployment rates. This has led to shift in rural poverty to urban poverty. Other study by AdamneshAtnafu, and Linda Oucho and Benjamin Zeitlyn, (2014) describes rural -urban migration aggravates urban poverty. Obviously, the migrants need various services, like water, electricity, housing, etc.

So, these needs of migrants will create limitations on the service system thereby aggravates the urban poverty. As more and more people arrive in the urban centers, there will be insufficient jobs for them and the unemployment rate will increase, there will be more workers chasing too few jobs this will lead to straining the resources of the government. While the labor force grows at fast degree, the degree at which employment opportunities grow is inadequate to absorb labor market entrants.

On the other hand, rural-urban migration is important for economic improvement and can be considered as poverty reduction by efficient utilization of labor resources. Rural-Urban migration serves as a conduit for excess labor to escape poverty and unemployment in the rural. Cities or urban centers offer a variety of employment opportunities to migrants that may increase their income.

Rural-urban migration has an advantage to migrants in providing better job opportunities in the newly expanding industries and engaged in self-employed activities. Migrants in their new area of destination are required to create their own employment and start their own businesses for their survival, engaged in a variety of activities such as street vending, barberry, carpentry, mechanics, security guards, personal servants and artisans. Some of them are may be become successful and prosper entrepreneurs making high incomes which again hire other employees under them.

In urban areas migrants are better accessible to social infrastructure like education, health, better information, modern technologies and modern way of thinking. Migrants also have opportunities to be provided with services like sanitation, water supply, electricity and better means of transportation. Rural-urban migration is an informal process of skill development that enhances knowledge and skills of migrants through exposure and interaction with the outside world that help them for their future lifetime carrier. New skills are acquired from co-workers and friends at the place of destination.

Rural- urban migration promotes growth and development of towns which help in capital accumulation in urban centers by providing labor at considerable price. Youth migrants are believed to be creative, tough, capable to adaptable to new environments and able to learn fast and speak new languages quickly. They have skills and qualifications and are easily familiar with new technologies that help sophisticated industrial companies to solve their skilled human power shortage.

Majority of the researches that have been done so far tends to concentrate on the incidence of unemployment at country level or in specific population categories, usually native urban youth or women unemployment, and thus it is quite rare to find recent study that attempt to deal with the issue of challenges or problems that migrant youths are facing in the town as well as problems towns facing associated with rural-urban migration of youth.

Thus, the study have identified the challenges and opportunities of rural-urban migration on youth immigrants as well as, it have assessed the effect of migration on Fako division due to the increase of youth migrants in the town from different areas of the county. This consequence explained in terms of economic, security and provision of services burden or pressure resulted from these migrants on Fako division.  The study also considered the positive aspects of migration of youth as an opportunity it had for Fako division.  Migrants were provided labor forces for emerging industries that contribute to economic development, knowledge transfer, and capital investment.

1.3.Objectives

The study has the following general and specific objectives.

1.3.1.   General Objective

The general objective of this study was to assess the challenges and opportunities of rural-urban migration of youth on Fako division.

1.3.2.   Specific Objective

1. To identify factors that push and pull youths to Fako division.
2. To assess the opportunities and challenges of rural-urban migration on youth immigrants in Fako division.
3. To assess the consequences of rural-urban migration of youth in Fako division.

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