Abstract:
This study is aimed to explore the causes of rural farmland dispute and its socio- economic consequences in Andabet Woreda, South Gondar Administrative Zone, Amhara region. To address this objective of the study, the researcher employed mixed research method with cross sectional survey design. Both primary and secondary data are used. The sources of the primary data were questionnaire filled by 144 sample households, key informants’ interview, discussions with focus groups and observation. Secondary data sources include published and unpublished documents, reports and other related materials. The data taken from woreda courts report that the magnitude of farmland dispute in the study area is higher than other cases to reach the district court. The findings of the study reveal that the frequent types of farmland disputes in the study area are boundary dispute, ownership dispute, inheritance disputes and grazing land disputes. The major causes of farmland disputes are; found to be drainage problem in summer season, divorce, scarcity of farmland, high demand of land, irrigation related in winter season and fragmented of farmland. Furthermore, absences of ownership land certificate and rental land related are also the causes of the land dispute in the study area. The findings also depict that farmland disputes have impeded the social life of the disputant farmers. As per the findings of the study, a farmland dispute terminates the social interaction of the community. Furthermore, the disputed parties are always vulnerable to high financial costs such as court fees, transportation cost, fees for getting legal advices, accommodation costs. Farmland dispute has a negative effect on agricultural production as well.
Key terms: Dispute, Conflict, Land Dispute, Socio-economic consequences