What's a Fair Price for Lost Farmland?

In Ethiopia, urban growth is causing big problems for farmers in areas just outside cities, known as peri-urban zones. When farmers are forced to leave their land, they often don't get fair compensation. This study looked into how much money these farmers think is fair for their lost land. The researchers used a method called contingent valuation to ask farmers in the Amhara region what they would accept as payment.

They found that a two-step process for offering compensation works better because it helps spot and fix errors people might make when answering. The study also discovered that factors like age, education, and income can affect how much money a farmer wants. The main takeaway is that governments need to offer fair compensation to help farmers deal with the loss of their land and prevent poverty.

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