Perceived Socioeconomic Changes Due to Merowe Dam Project Implementation for Resettled people ‫‬

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the perceived social and economic changes occurred to people due to Merowe Dam Project implementation. Study site comprises two resettlement projects which are: 1. New Amri resettlement project located in Northern State. 2. Al Mukabrab resettlement project, located in River Nile State. Due to Merowe Dam project implementation, large numbers of people in Merowe area were affected, and many of them relocated in different areas in Northern and River Nile State States. These new areas differ from their home places and due to this, there are some changes in their economic and social life. Stratified random sampling procedure was employed for selection of the two resettlement projects; Simple random selection was used for selecting four villages representing the two resettlement projects, A sample of 120 farmers (30 from each village), was taken randomly from four villages in the new resettlement areas. The field survey for data collection was carried out by the researcher in June 2011. For primary data collection, a comprehensive questionnaire and direct interviewing were used, while secondary data were obtained from various sources, including books, reports, dam implementation Unit main office and available information in internet. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program was used for data analysis and testing for the study hypotheses. Analysis was conducted to generate, descriptive statistics, frequencies, and t.test. Data analysis results showed that there are some significant differences between the two periods of resettlement (before and after) in economic and social status of resettlers. iv The study results revealed that, agriculture is the main activity and source of income of farmers before and after resettlement, but after resettlement the farm size of all people increased, after resettlement there was no crop diversification. After resettlement, all agricultural operations and agricultural inputs, are done by project management. This improvement in agricultural services affected the total revenue of the agricultural crops positively. Also results revealed that, new resettlement areas received better social services and other basic needs. These include safe water, educational and sanitation services, electricity and paved roads. And people have better access to these services. Women contribution in agriculture before resettlement was higher than after resettlement and this is attributed to that, in the new resettlement areas farms are far from residential area. While women participation in committees was higher after resettlement. Based on the findings of the study, it recommended that: 1. Affected communities should be involved in assessments and in decisions regarding resettlement locations, and post resettlement development projects. 2. . Special committee to deal with exceptional issues like additional land allocation, housing, and other special requirements should be established. 3. Land and land related issues should be carefully studied and solved before resettlement. 4. Models of houses should be selected by people (or rather designed with the participation of the people) to protect identity of ethnologies in term of material culture. v 5. Social analysis committees should be formed before resettlement./development plans need to concentrate in training in many aspects ( in modern agricultural techniques, both for men and women for increasing crop revenue. 6. Department of agricultural extension should provide services to farmers for increasing crop productivity, including vegetables, fruits and homestead crops and to develop other homestead agricultural activities and offer appropriate information to farmers in the area of crop production. 7. Action to empower women in smallholder’s households through training in technical, leadership and organization skills may contribute to changing roles with in the household and control by women over greater share of household income.