The Effects of Sand Winning on Agricultural Sustainability in Two Communities in Kpone- Katamanso Municipal of Ghana

Abstract

The primary goal of this study was to investigate the effects of sand winning on agricultural sustainability in two communities of the Municipal District of Kpone-Katamanso. The study specifically looked at the extent to which sand winning activities contribute to environmental degradation; how these degraded lands resulting from sand winning affects farming activities and ultimately the wellbeing of local community members whose farming activities have been compromised. The study was conducted using a mixed methods approach where results obtained from a survey of 240 respondents Nanoman and Kpone-Bawleshie communities of the Municipal were augmented with key informant interviews on the same subject matter. Data gathered from questionnaires were analysed using SPSS whiles that of the interviews were recorded and transcribed. The results of the study suggest that sand wining leads to loss or reduction in farmlands, reduction in soil fertility and exacerbates soil erosion. This causes livelihoods to be lost and income levels of households to also reduce by half. Therefore, soil wining if not properly regulated has a negative effect on agricultural sustainability. Based on these findings, the study recommends that government institutions in charge of regulating and monitoring winning activities in Ghana should intensify their monitoring operations to ensure that illegal sand wining and poor winning activities are curbed. This will also ensure that sand winners reclaim lands after operations to avoid pit holes and stagnant waters that may breed mosquitoes and cause diseases in winning communities. Community members in these whose livelihoods are likely to be affected should consider diversification into other income generating activities.