Socio-economic Factors That Influence Household Incomes in Artisanal Gold Mining Area of Tangandougou Commune, Mali

Abstract

Mining activities generate incomes through direct employment for households in developing countries. Despite this, it has negative impacts on economies and the environment. Like many developing nations, household incomes in Mali are mainly derived from crop and livestock production, agroforestry and fisheries. The objective of this study was to assess factors that impact on livelihoods and household incomes in artisanal gold mining area of Tangandougou commune, Sikasso region in Mali. The study site was located in Farabacoura artisanal gold-mining area, some 170 km from the capital Bamako. The study used an exploratory and descriptive research design with a random sample of 200 households. Research tools used included questionnaires, focus group discussion, key informant interviews. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The different sources of incomes were all negatively and significantly affected by profession but not the incomes from artisanal gold mining. The second factor which affected households’ incomes was nativity, followed by gender, age, education level and family size respectively. Therefore, the study recommends national and local government, and NGOs intervention, particularly on artisanal gold mining so as to develop agricultural production systems through the integrated sustainable agriculture. This system entails rainwater harvesting for irrigation, livestock and crop production. Such an integrated agricultural production system could incorporate agroforestry and aquaculture that could complement one another, thereby enhance food security, environmental health, nutrition and above all increase the households’ income levels.