Orpaillage, disponibilité alimentaire et compétition foncière dans les zones aurifères du département de Bouaflé

Abstract

Gold Washing, Food Supply and Competition in the Gold Areas of the Department of Bouafle. The gold industry exploitation which is booming in the department of Bouaflé has had a harmful consequence on the food supply. Based on a field survey and on bibliographical research this article analyses the effects of gold washing on the food supply in Bouaflé. The results obtained show that the gold industry exploitation favoured the reduction of the available land for food production and the disappearance of man power to the detriment of this new gold conquest. Farming land and even plantations are transformed into gold washing sites. As a consequence, we see an increase of the foodstuff prices at the local markets, which constitute an obstacle for some households to get their daily meal. Furthermore, the gold washing dynamics causes a strong immigration which increases land pressure in the locality.

Keywords

• Gold washing
• Farming
• Food supply
• Land pressure
• Gold areas
• Bouafle
• Côte d'Ivoire