Abstract:
Inheritance in rural families is examined to understand the complex process in the
intergenerational transfer of titled agricultural assets as well as non-titled farmland. The focus
of this thesis is investigating the farmland inheritance conflict and its socioeconomic effects on
the farm households in the study area community. Descriptive-case study qualitative approach
was employed in studying the problem. Sampling technique was used to select 24 respondents for
the study. For the purpose of deep investigation of the issue in-depth interview, FGDs and
document analysis were used as data collection instruments. In-depth interview was held with
elder farmers, accused and accuser, Woreda court judge, Woreda EPLAUD expert, and FGDs
was done with three Kebele EPLAUD committee. The document analysis includes court charges
and other kebele documents. The finding of the study indicated that the intensity of farmland
inheritance conflict was very high, and farmland charges increase every year from 2016 up to
the present. The factors that causes for farmland-related inheritance conflict are wills, changes
of declaration on land, Lack of awareness among family members, Institutional weakness,
unequal farmland inheritance distribution, land sacristy, insecurity tenure system,, corruption,
and environmental condition. Farmland inheritance conflict affected the lives of the people in
that woreda socially and economically. There are different social effects. These are chains of
revenge between close family relatives due to land conflict. Burial ceremony, weeding, market
place and meeting are a dangerous place where everyone fears for death by revenge seekers.
Besides, Mahiber, Ekubi, Idir, Kire, Debo, Sodeka, Zikir and other social institutions are
continuously threatened by conflict. Economically, the farmers spent their money to charge their
opponents on court and pay a lot of money for bribery, attorney, transport, food. To get money
for such purpose they sold their ox, cow, horse Donkey sheep, Goat or grains that they have to
feed their children, and they also borrowed money from ACSI. To minimize the contributing
factors of Farmland inheritance conflict, the woreda and kebele agricultural and land use
administration in collaboration with woreda court, and the community at large should work
together in order to minimize the conflict in the woreda and To improve the decision process the
woreda court should introduce new technology system like networking and data base.