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NATURE-BASED REMEDIATION OF DEGRADED ARTISANAL GOLD MINE FIELDS FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY IN VIHIGA
Statement of the Problem
Artisanal mining plays an integral part in supporting livelihoods in rural Kenya in terms of employment and income generation. However, the sector also adversely affects the environment and the associated resources which could compromise food and nutrition security and other livelihoods as well as socio-economic outcomes. For instance, CESMECC has established that the artisanal gold miners in Vihiga County still use mercury to recover gold. The worst affected group is women, who undertake gold processing activities. Men, on the other hand, dig up the gold from the ground. Nonetheless, no comprehensive study has been undertaken to quantify these adverse effects and inform policy for sustainable artisanal mining. Moreover, there have been no deliberate interventions to reverse the adverse effects and promote positive livelihood outcomes such as enhanced food and nutrition security.
Target Groups
● Artisanal gold miners in Vihiga County Kenya
● Smallholder farmers in the affected areas
● Artisanal gold mining stakeholders
● Food security experts
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This project is consistent with various Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture), SDG 12 (ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns) and SDG 15 (Life on land).
Importance
This project will be important to several stakeholders:
● To the policymakers, both at the national and county level, the project will generate research findings to inform policies.
● To the mining communities, the project will provide information on alternative safe methods of recovering gold and the best ways to handle
mercury and other harmful chemicals
● To the smallholder farmers, the project will enable the testing of bioremediation technologies and crops to improve food production.
● To the Surrounding Community: The project aims to mitigate the risk of mercury pollution in areas around mining sites, ensuring a safer environment and improved health for the local population.