EFFECTS OF ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINING ON FOOD SECURITY IN DAKURUPE AND KUI COMMUNITIES OF BOLE DISTRICT

Abstract

The study analysed the extent of artisanal and small scale mining’s effects on household food security in Dakrupe and Kui communities of the Bole District. Precisely the study ascertained the level of food security, explored the effects of ASM activities on food production and ascertained ASM activities effects on the dimensions of food security in Dakrupe and Kui communities of the Bole District. Based on a cross-sectional survey, the study employed simple random and purposive sampling technique in selecting 161 households out of a total of 205 for the study. Descriptive statistics were employed for the data analysis with the help of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The study discovered that the level of food security in Dakrupe and Kui is low thus inhabitants are largely food insecure. The communities are not food sufficient and depend much on neighbouring communities for food supply. The study also discovered that the activities of ASM has negative effects on food production in the two communities. Most farmers have abandoned farming to engage in mining, farm lands are used for mining hence farmers and potential farmers do not have access to arable lands to carry out farming activities and farming lands have become infertile due to deposition of chemicals in the soil by miners. These has negatively affected crop yield and the quality of food produced in the communities. The study recommends that in order to reduce food insecurity and poverty in the two communities, the government through the Ministries of Gender and Social Protection and Food and Agriculture in collaboration with the Bole District Assembly must acquire vast farming land from the Tindanas, this land should be protected from miners and should be given to persons willing to farm at a very high discounted rate. Persons willing to farm should also be supplied with funds and agric inputs at a discounted rate. This will create the motivation for people to engage in farming and thereby increase food production in the communities.