An effect of rural-urban migration on the source region is

1. Analyze the question The question asks for an effect of rural-urban migration on the source region. The source region is the place people leave, which here is the rural area.

2. Explain the concept Rural-urban migration is the movement of people from villages to towns and cities. It is usually driven by "push" factors such as poor amenities, low incomes and a lack of jobs in rural areas, and "pull" factors such as jobs, schools, hospitals and electricity in cities.

When people leave the countryside:

• The rural population falls, which is rural depopulation.
• The farm labour force shrinks, since most migrants are young and able-bodied.
• The remaining population is mostly children and the elderly, so the age structure becomes unbalanced.
• Food production may decline, and villages may be left with abandoned farms and houses.

3. Evaluate the options

• A. Rural depopulation: Correct. People leave the source region, so its population drops.
• B. Urban depopulation: Wrong. Cities receive migrants, so they become more populated and often overcrowded.
• C. Rural employment: Wrong. Migration does not directly create jobs in villages.
• D. Rural unemployment: Wrong. Migration usually reduces the number of people competing for rural jobs. The problem in rural areas is labour shortage, not unemployment caused by migration.

4. Answer The correct option is A. rural depopulation.

5. Exam tip Always identify the source region (where people leave) and the destination region (where they arrive).

• Source (rural): depopulation, labour shortage, lower food output.
• Destination (urban): overcrowding, unemployment, slums, pressure on amenities.