Effects of mining on food security to farming communities surrounding Nyamongo gold mine in Tarime district, Tanzania

MSc Thesis

Food availability and supply is essential requirement for people. Household food security is the availability of food to household level which will suffice the needs all times for an active, healthy life. The food will be either produced in farms by family or purchased from other places. The aim of this study was to assess effects of mining on food security to farming communities surrounding Nyamongo Gold Mine in Tarime District, Tanzania. Specific objectives were to: (i) determine food security status in the study area; (ii) determine the amount of farm labour that moves to mining from communities surrounding the mining in the study area; (iii) determine amount of money earned by house hold farmers in study area from mining; (iv) identify items bought by money generated by farmers from mining in the study area; and (v) assess the contribution of infrastructure development to food security in the study area. Data were collected by interviewing households using interview schedule as a main tool, which comprised of closed and open ended questions. Descriptive analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) were employed as a tool of analysis to determine factors affects food security to mining surrounding communities. Results revealed that respondent's family size, farm size, sex, age (years), marital status, movement of farmers to mining area, artisanal activities, mining related activities and income generation affects food availability. It was concluded that food security will be enhanced in the study area if District Council in collaboration with mining companies, artisanal mining and farming communities surrounding North Mara Gold Mine (NMGM) will put together efforts in crop production. However small holder farmers in the study area will need a boost from Government, NMGM and other agriculture stakeholders so as to receive support in agricultural extension services because there is need to accelerate technology uptake to address declining farm production being experienced by smallholder farmers in the study area, which leads to food insecurity.