Assessing the Impacts of Rico Gado Feed Mill on its Surrounding Communities – A Sustainable Development Approach

Abstract

Uncontrolled expansion of agro-allied factories on agricultural farmlands usually impact on the socio economic and environmental quality thereby threatening the livelihoods of inhabitants of such communities. Rico Gado feed mill was established to produce feeds for livestock that could help diffuse the conflicts between farmers and herdsmen that compete over land. This research assesses the impact of the physical and socio-economic characteristics of Hosere and Wuro Jauro Bappa communities affected by Rico Gado, with a view to identify existing problems and proffer solutions. The study observed that about 60% of respondents from Hosere and 57% from Wuro Jauro Bappa engage in farming. Despite the acquisition of the land upon which the communities farm and rear livestock, only about 6% - 7% of the people are employed in the factory. The factory has not impacted positively on the income of residents and low income is evident as 25% of respondents earn between N5,000- N10,000 monthly in Wuro Jauro Bappa, while 50% earn N10000 – N20000 in both communities, and about 50% in Hosere and only 25% in Wuro Jauro Bappa earn above N20000. The resulting unemployment rate coined with inadequate infrastructural facilities led to increasing poverty, forcing other residents to relocate elsewhere. The study therefore recommend sustainable development strategies to promote development that impact positively on environmental quality, and encourage desirable physical, economic and socio-economic conditions, in intergenerational manner to circumvent consequent dislodgment of the communities.

Keywords: Factory Farming, Physical and Socio-Economic Impact, Sustainable Development