Nature, patterns, and determinants of seasonal outmigration in the north-eastern part of Ethiopia

ABSTRACT The article identifies the nature, patterns, and determinants of seasonal outmigration in Tsagibji District, in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia. In the study on which the article is based, a quantitative research approach was primarily employed, complemented with a qualitative approach to triangulate the findings. Primary data were gathered from rural households using a household survey, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Secondary data sources were employed to complement the primary data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed. The findings indicate that rural–urban migration is a dominant pattern of seasonal outmigration, as about half of the total sample households migrated to urban areas to avoid the seasonal food shortages and economic shocks caused by environmental factors. The binary logistic model analysis revealed that male-headed households, household size, and participation in productive safety-net programmes were significantly and directly related to seasonal outmigration. Other aspects had a significant and negative association with seasonal outmigration. Additionally, environmental and economic push and pull factors drive households to employ migration as a coping and adaptive livelihood strategy. The authors conclude that addressing rural unemployment, livelihood diversification, and environmental rehabilitation activities is crucial to reduce the volume and scale of seasonal outmigration in Tsagibji District.