Effects of Sand Winning on the Livelihood of Food Crop Farmers in the Ayensuano District, Ghana

Abstract

Fertile agriculture lands are degraded continuously by sand winners in several communities. This study therefore, examined the effects of sand winning on the livelihood of food crop farmers in Ayensuano District, Ghana. In this study, a mixed method research technique was used. Specifically, the explanatory sequential research constituted the study design. A sample of 316 respondents took part in the study. An interview schedule, interview guide, and an observation checklist were utilised in the collection of data. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, linear regression and Pearson chi-square test of independence whiles a thematic analysis was performed on the qualitative data. The study discovered that majority of farmers had their farmlands reduced, and some had lost all of their farmlands. It also emerged that air pollution is on the rise as a result of the dust produced by moving trucks loaded with sand since the communities are not tarred. Besides, the study also found out that constructional related activities and petty trading were the new livelihood activities engaged in by the people. It is suggested that the Physical Planning Department of the District Assembly should work together with land owners and opinion leaders in each of the communities to develop local plans to earmark specific areas for sand winning ensuring that people‟s farms are not destroyed whiles households or farmers should start engaging in more non-farm livelihood activities in order to sustain their livelihood.