The Mining-Agriculture Nexus And Food Security In Kenyasi, Ahafo Region

Abstract

Food security has been of paramount importance since time immemorial considering the crucial role of food in the survival of human beings. Food security is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite all the global efforts toward ensuring food security, food security in sub-Saharan Africa (especially the rural parts) still ought to be attended to. Livelihood diversification has become very crucial in the face of the rapid challenges engulfing the agricultural sector. Small-scale mining has become an option for rural dwellers in mineral-rich areas in Ghana. This study, therefore, seeks to investigate the relative contribution of farming and mining livelihoods to food security. This study adopted a case study descriptive design and made use of the mixed-method approach. The findings of the study were about the objectives of study which are to assess the nature and level of usage of the two major livelihood strategies, to examine the determinants/motivations of household choice of the two livelihood systems, to discuss the relative contribution of small-scale mining and farming to the food security status of households and finally, to analyse the challenges of employing small-scale mining and farming activities in terms of contradictions and synergies. Following the first objective, the study shows that a majority of the inhabitants were into farming and mining, with farming being the dominant occupation amongst the residents of Kenyasi. The study also observed that a majority of the inhabitants earned relatively lower incomes (usually less than 1,000 cedis per month). This could be attributed to the fact that most of the farmers were only engaged in subsistence farming and only sold their produce when they had a surplus. Despite being a farming community, it was surprisingly identified that food shortage was prevalent in Kenyasi as most households indicated that there was not enough food for them throughout the year. For the second objective, the study found that farmers ventured into farming to be able to provide food for their consumption and sell the surplus to local markets. Those engaged in mining, it was mainly motivated by the higher income levels. The results from the fourth objective show that the synergies and trade-offs between mining and farming in contributing to livelihoods and food security were complementary. However, the operation of mining activities led to the destruction of farmlands within the community. The third objective centred mainly around contributions found that mining had also reduced the labour for farming by attracting farmers and casual potential labourers given the high wages in mining. The study recommended that it is therefore important to streamline the operations of both livelihood activities to harness their relative direct and indirect contributions to achieving food security.