THE IMPLICATIONS OF ARTISANAL SMALL-SCALE MINING ON FOOD SECURITY IN ZIMBABWE

Abstract

Like many sub-Saharan African countries, Zimbabwe's economy and household livelihoods have traditionally been anchored on agriculture and farming. However, a radical shift has been witnessed, resulting in unprecedented growth in artisanal and small-scale mining. Various theories attempted to explain this phenomenon, including agricultural poverty due to climate change, rising prices of minerals, and economic decline, among others. The rapid growth in artisanal and small-scale mining has both positive and negative implications for food smallholder farming and ultimately all the dimensions of food security. Based on the literature review method, this essay, therefore, examines the nexus between artisanal and small-scale mining and food security. This study is important in shaping policies that strike a balance between food security and other economic activities that support livelihoods, specifically for vulnerable communities, in a sustainable manner.

Keywords

• artisanal small-scale mining
• climate change
• entitlements
• food security

ZİMBABVE’DE EL EMEĞİ İLE YÜRÜTÜLEN KÜÇÜK ÖLÇEKLİ MADENCİLİĞİN GIDA GÜVENLİĞİ ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİLERİ

Öz

Bu çalışma, Zimbabve'de küçük ölçekli madencilik ile gıda güvenliği arasındaki bağlantıyı araştırmaktadır. Tarım geleneksel olarak kırsal ekonominin temelini oluşturmasına rağmen, küçük ölçekli madencilik sektörüne doğru büyük bir kayma yaşanmaktadır. Doğrudan ya da dolaylı olarak küçük ölçekli madencilikle uğraşan insanların sayısı, özellikle ekonomideki çöküşe bağlı olarak artmaya devam etmektedir. Zanaatkar ve küçük ölçekli madencilikteki hızlı büyümenin, küçük ölçekli gıda çiftçiliği ve nihayetinde gıda güvenliğinin tüm boyutları üzerindehem olumlu hem de olumsuz etkileri vardır. Bazı akademisyenler ve uzmanlar bu olguyu açıklamak için farklı argümanlar sunmuştur. Bu argümanlar arasında iklim değişikliğine bağlı tarımsal yoksulluk, artan maden fiyatları ve ekonomik gerileme yer almaktadır. Bu çalışma, literatür taramasından elde edilen verileri kullanarak, zanaatkar ve küçük ölçekli madencilik ile gıda güvenliği arasındaki bağlantıyı incelemektedir ve ortaya çıkan politikaları vekarar alma süreçlerini şekillendirme potansiyeline sahip bilginin üretilmesi bakımından önem taşımaktadır. Özellikle savunmasız toplulukların geçim kaynaklarını sürdürülebilir bir şekilde destekleyen gıda güvenliği ve diğerekonomik faaliyetler arasında bir denge kuran politika ve programların yürürlüğe girmesini etkilemek amaçlanmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• artisanal small-scale mining
• climate change
• entitlements
• food security

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