The impact of mining effluent pollution on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Musakashi and Lukoshi farming blocks in Chambishi mining area.
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Date
2019
Authors
Mukuka, Louisa B
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Zambia
Abstract
An important dimension of environmental management that has not received much attention is the link between mining effluent pollution and disruption of farmer’s livelihoods. Most studies on mining in Zambia focus on the impact of mining on environment, human health, cultural issues, ecosystem,land and water. This study analyses the impact of mining effluent pollution on smallholder farmer’s livelihood in Chambishi mining town whose objectives were to; investigate the effects of mining effluent on smallholder farmers, to determine crop production between polluted and non polluted smallholder farms in Musakashi and Lukoshi farming block and assess the possible coping strategies to smallholder farmers in the study area. The significance of this study lies in its ability to contribute towards sustainable management of mining effluents and support of smallholder farmer’slivelihood in the mining towns of Zambia. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection.Simple random sampling was used to select 95 polluted and non-polluted farms from the District Agriculture Register in Musakashi and Lukoshi farming block. The selected 95 smallholder farmers were interviewed usingscheduled structured interview. Interview guides were also developed for four key informants.Furthermore,one Focus Group Discussions in each farming block were used to get information on the impact of mining effluent on smallholder farmers livelihood. Availability and purposive sampling was also used to select the participants in the Focus Group Discussion. In terms of data analysis,collected data were edited and coded and then themes developed and analysed using descriptive statistics. Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 18.0 were used to generate graphical representation for quantitative data. T- test was also used to analyse the variation in yields between polluted and non polluted farms in each farm block. Qualitativedata was analysed using content and livelihood framework. Results show that 80 percent of the smallholder farmers were involved in farming activities. The crops grown included: sweet potatoes, green beans, bananas, maize, tomato, groundnuts, onion, cabbage, egg plants, cassava, sorghum and rape. Results indicate that there has been a significance difference in crop yields between polluted and non polluted farms. Mining effluent pollution resulted in drying of ripariantrees and contamination of soil in the arable land. A total of 60 percent of smallholder farmers in Musakashi and Lukoshi farming block ranked the impact of mining effluent pollution on their wellbeing as high.Smallholder farmers were trying to cope with the impact of mining effluent byrelocating their farms and gardens away from the river anddrilling boreholes in the upland. The results further indicated that 33.6 percent of smallholder farmers rely on assistance from relatives and well-wishers because of the disruption of their source of livelihood.The study concludes that mining effluent pollutionwas responsible for food insecurity and vulnerability in the area.
Key words: Livelihood, Sustainable Mining, Mining Effluent, Smallholder Farmer,
Environmental Sustainability.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Waste management.--Mines, Zambia , Microbiology.--Mines , Pollution.