Effects of Illegal Mining on the Environment, Economy, and Agricultural Productivity
Peter Suglo,
Paul Effah,
Alfred Amponsah Acheampong,
Raymond Sunkari,
Anthony Yeboah
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 4, December 2021
Pages:
79-91
Received:
27 July 2021
Accepted:
10 August 2021
Published:
16 October 2021
Abstract: The mining of minerals has contributed enormously to most African countries' economies. However, the activities involved in these sectors have turned to hunt our environment and human life due to the lack of regulation in this sector. This paper is a review of the effects of illegal mining on the environment, the economy and agricultural productivity in Ghana. The review employed key word findings at the initial stage to obtain relevant articles; peer-reviewed and non-reviewed articles, both published and non-published and other articles from reputable media sources. The findings from the study revealed that in Ghana, just like most African countries, artisanal and small-scale mining has contributed positively to the economy through job creation, increased mineral output, specifically gold, and concurrently increased the GDP of the country. Nonetheless, the downsides of unregistered and unregulated small-scale mining activities overshadow the benefits derived from it. Notable negativities associated with artisanal and small scale mining include: loss of mineral revenue through smuggling, food insecurity, destruction to surface and underground water through toxic contamination and pollution caused by mud and sediments, air and noise pollution and destruction of biodiversity, including the natural flora and fauna and water species. Death, injuries, respiratory and skin diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, physical and psychological stress, malaria, and HIV are among the common legacies of illegal mining. Among other recommendations, the study suggests that perpetrators found in illegal mining activities should be duly dealt with according to law. Also, small-scale mining concessions duly registered and regulated should be demarcated to avoid encroachment into forest reserves, farmlands, and river courses.
Abstract: The mining of minerals has contributed enormously to most African countries' economies. However, the activities involved in these sectors have turned to hunt our environment and human life due to the lack of regulation in this sector. This paper is a review of the effects of illegal mining on the environment, the economy and agricultural productivi...
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Nitrogen Fixation Using Symbiotic and Non-Symbiotic Microbes: A Review Article
Mamo Bekele,
Getachew Yilma
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 4, December 2021
Pages:
92-98
Received:
12 August 2021
Accepted:
26 November 2021
Published:
7 December 2021
Abstract: Nitrogen (N) is one of the key drivers of global agricultural production and needs 150-200 million tons each year by plants in agricultural systems to produce the world’s food, animal feed and industrial products. Hence, to minimize this problem industrially producing nitrogen fertilizer is necessary. However, this industrially produced nitrogen fertilizer affect the world ecosystem through different mechanisms and effective exploitation and utilization of biologically fixed nitrogen in agricultural systems is necessary. This naturally fixed nitrogen minimizes the rate of cost of crop production, urea volatilization and is the sustainable soil fertility maintenance. Despite the importance of biological nitrogen fixation is sustainable and environmentally friend approach, some researches were done on legume crops through exploring variety specific rhizobia species for legume crops and shortage of information on free living nitrogen fixer of bacteria species for cereal crops which will be the future concerned research. This paper review discusses biological nitrogen fixation mechanism symbiotically and non-symbiotically either through free living bacteria or associative with host plant. It also focused on types of bacteria in which fix atmospheric nitrogen in cereal crops and factors affecting biological nitrogen fixation in lesser amount.
Abstract: Nitrogen (N) is one of the key drivers of global agricultural production and needs 150-200 million tons each year by plants in agricultural systems to produce the world’s food, animal feed and industrial products. Hence, to minimize this problem industrially producing nitrogen fertilizer is necessary. However, this industrially produced nitrogen fe...
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