Gender Dimensions of Rural Livelihoods in Artisanal and Small-scale Mining in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

Mining activities contribute to livelihoods and welfare of rural households in communities that are endowed with mineral resources. Oyo State is one of the states in Nigeria where artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) livelihood activities are undertaken. ASM is an important driver of local economic development, while simultaneously contributing to a complex array of positive and negative socio-economic, health and environmental impacts. There is however, dearth of empirical studies on the gender dimensions of ASM. This study therefore, assessed the gender dimensions of ASM in rural households in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting respondents. Random sampling method was used to select men and women respondents from three communities in the study area. The communities are Igbojaye, Ofiki and Komu. Both qualitative (key informant interviews) and quantitative (structured questionnaire) methods were used to gather data. A total of 120 respondents, comprising both men and women were surveyed. Information collected include: socio-demographic characteristics of miners, income level of miners, as well as perceived health and environmental impacts of mining activities. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed significant differences in the socio-economic characteristics, income levels, perceptions on health and environmental impacts of mining activities by gender. The average age of men was 37.34 (±9.02) years while that of women was 30.06 (±5.05) years. Household size of men averaged 5.69 (±2.70) persons while that of women was 4.58 (±1.87) persons. Average years of experience in mining activities for men and women were 10.36 (±4.98) and 8.32 (±3.44) years, respectively. The types of minerals mined in the study area were tourmaline and tantalite. Twenty two percent of the women and 38.6% of the men earned more than 25% of their monthly income from ASM activities. Both men and women agreed that mining activities have impacts on other livelihood activities like food hawking and petty trading as well as health and environmental impacts. Both men and women generate income from ASM. Key Words: Mining, Artisanal and Small-scale mining, Itesiwaju Local Government Are

Unpacking the Nexus in Food Prices, Agricultural Productivity and Poverty in Nigeria: The Geographic Information Systems Approach

Rising food prices and low agricultural productivity are major threats to feeding the teeming population of the most populous nation in Africa - Nigeria. Besides, poverty incidence in Nigeria constitutes a drawback to agricultural and economic development. Low agricultural productivity (output per hectare or yield) for cereals has often been implicated for the double tragedy of high food prices and increase in poverty levels, especially for net buyers or importing countries. Hence, the need to analyze the nexus with food prices, agricultural productivity and poverty levels in order to underscore the need for promoting sustainable development in Nigeria. An assessment of the connections among food prices, agricultural productivity and poverty levels would help to formulate appropriate policies for exiting the poverty trap, and promoting sustainable agricultural and economic development in Nigeria. Food prices, productivity and poverty mapping would inform appropriate and location-specific policy targeting and development planning for sustainable development. This study provides an assessment and mapping of a major cereal (maize) prices, agricultural productivity (yield) and poverty levels, as drivers of sustainable development. Overall, two patterns of change for each of the variables (food price, productivity and poverty levels) were identified and analyzed. These patterns are high or moderate price change, productivity increase or decrease, and increase or decrease in poverty levels. The overlay and mapping of the three variables of price of maize, productivity, and poverty changes by development domains in Nigeria were undertaken. This study used periodic and spatial data on maize prices, maize yields and poverty levels in Nigeria. Based on the objectives of Nigeria’s agricultural and economic development policy outcomes of moderate price change, increased agricultural productivity and poverty reduction, the study revealed that only three states (Kaduna, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom) out of 37 development domains satisfied these sustainable development outcomes. The study revealed the nexus in food price, productivity and poverty by development domains in Nigeria. It submitted that there was a low level of effectiveness in agricultural and economic development outcomes. Therefore, it recommends that policies on food price stabilization, agricultural productivity increases and poverty reduction be pursued simultaneously for effective transition from low development outcomes to sustainable agricultural and economic development outcomes in Nigeria. Key words: Food prices, agricultural productivity, poverty, sustainable developmen

Livelihood Activities And Wealth Ranking Among Rural Households In The Farming Systems Of Western Kenya

The study examined the relationship between the livelihood activities of rural households in the farming systems of Western Kenya in relation to their wealth. A stratified random sampling procedure was used to select 252 farm households from eight districts in three provinces. Focus group discussions (FGD) were used to collect community-level data which complemented household-level data. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire. Results indicate that average household size was seven persons across survey districts. As expected, agriculture (crop and livestock) was the main activity of the farmers. Maize and common beans are the most important staple food crops and traded food crops. Livestock enterprises are dominated by poultry production. For purposes of diversification for better livelihoods, some farm households engaged in small businesses (especially fish trading), employment and artisanal work. The cropping system is mainly mixed cropping. Lack of cash and limited land availability were the most important factors that constrain agricultural development in Western Kenya. Although, most households preferred selling their farm produce in the markets or places where prices were better, many of them not only sold their farm produce but also purchased their farm inputs from the nearest towns due to problems and costs associated with going to where produce prices were better. Our results show a high wealth inequality among farm households in Western Kenya. This was in terms of both household wealth (with a Ginicoefficient of 0.52) and per capita wealth (with a Gini-coefficient of 0.55). The high level of inequality calls for more attention on proper targeting of development activities to ensure even distribution of resources and economic growth and development. Keywords: livelihood activities, inequality, rural farming system, and health. African Journal of Livestock Extension Vol. 5 2007: pp.43-5

Changing rural urban linkages in Africa in a globalizing economy

The role of rural-urban linkages is critically vital for Africa‟s development in this era of rapid socio-economic transformation. A better understanding of cities and how they relate both to the rural and urban development is needed in view of the continuous changes in development. This paper argues that many of Africa‟s development  problems such as poverty and food insecurity are best tackled through approaches that recognise the links between the two. Further, the paper proposes the “Kizuna” approach, which emphasises strong symbiotic bonds between rural and urban communities to addressing most problems that face the African society. Moreover, the paper argues that elements of „Kizuna‟ are already evident in the various social networks and kinships that guide the interactions between rural and urban dwellers in Africa. However, these bonds still need formal recognition and deliberate policy interventions aimed at enhancing their potential to foster poverty reduction and sustainable development.Keywords: Rural-urban-continuum, livelihood options, environmental damage, sustainable development, Kizun

Global change and investments in smallholder irrigation for food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Investments in irrigation contribute to poverty reduction and enhance food security. This paper considers irrigation investments more broadly in the context of rural–urban linkages and thus examines rural irrigation schemes and peri-urban and urban agriculture using freshwater, groundwater and wastewater. We present case studies from East, West and Southern Africa, while focusing on the imperative of smallholders and of food security and nutrition. Evidence from Big Data and telecoupling show that, amid global change and sustainability issues, irrigation development strengthens connections between humans and nature with notable benefits to food security. Transforming investments to feed the future generation require priority investments in irrigation, solar energy for groundwater pumping, groundwater development policy, and integration of peri-urban and urban agriculture into food systems. Equally important will be no-regret interventions in wastewater reuse, water storage and groundwater buffer, micro-irrigation, and wholesale reconfiguration of farming systems, through anticipatory investments, to safeguard food security and sustainability into the distant future