The influence of artisanal gold mining on agricultural land in Ikolomani sub-county Kakamega county, Kenya

Abstract

In the entire world, 40.5 million people were directly engaged in artisanal gold mining (AGM). In Kenya, AGM is characterized with; massive clearing of vegetation and land destruction in AGM areas, overnight conversion of once arable and grazing land to AGM activities, replacement of once arable and grazing land with heaps of debris, overburden and open pits from AGM activities associated to income generation. In Ikoloman Sub County, AGM activities are intensive, notwithstanding the fact that, the Sub County is endowed with fertile soils and high amounts of rainfall nonetheless crop yields are generally low, with maize and beans yields being below 0.9 tones. This points to the fact that AGM poses a serious threat to agricultural land in Ikolomani Sub County. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine the influence of AGM on agricultural land in Ikolomani Sub County of Kakamega County. The specific objectives of the study were to: examine the influence of AGM income on the acreage of arable land; determine the influence of the acreage of land under AGM on food crop yields; and establish the influence of acreage of land under AGM on livestock grazing area in Ikolomani Sub County. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was employed. A minimum sample size of 273 households was drawn from a study population of 950 households engaging in AGM on their farming land using Fisher’s formula. Random sampling was used to identify household heads engaging in AGM from the thirteen Sub Locations of Ikolomani Sub County. Purposive sampling was used to identify key informants such as artisanal gold mining opinion leaders, chiefs, village elders, officers from Petroleum and Mining and Agricultural departments who were interviewed in Sub locations. Primary data were collected through questionnaires administered to household heads, interview schedules for key informants, Focus Group Discussions, and photography .Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics: percentages, frequencies, means, and simple linear regression. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically along the research objectives and presented in narrative form. Simple linear regression was used to predict the influence of: AGM income on acreage of arable land; acreage of land under AGM on food crop yields; acreage of land under AGM on livestock grazing area. The findings were presented in the form of tables, graphs, plates and discussions. The results show that 63% (r2=0.63,p < 0.05) of the variation of acreage of arable land can be explained by income from AGM. That acreage of arable land had reduced considerably as farmers practiced or leased it out for monetary gains from AGM. About 55% (r2=0.55,p < 0.05)of the variation of food crop yields can be explained by acreage of land under AGM. This can be explained by the fact that: the acreage of arable land has been taken up for artisanal gold mining activities such as; construction of mining factories, makeshift structures for miners , the land was compacted due to human traffic, motor cycles and degraded rendering it infertile and pools of stagnant water had offered conducive breeding conditions for mosquitoes leading to rampant malaria spread limiting the populace in engagement in productive farming thereby reducing on food crop yields. The acreage of land under AGM explained only 16% (r2=0.16,p < 0.05)variation of livestock grazing area. That livestock grazing area had been put under AGM concessions, heaps of debris and overburden had consumed livestock grazing area non-bio generable sacks sprawled the livestock grazing area and livestock grazing area had been flooded by water pumped by AGM miners to the surface. Using the results policy makers and society at large can gain insight on how AGM is influencing agriculture land. This will assist in control and management of AGM activities in Ikolomani Sub County.