Two sides to every coin: farmers’ perceptions of mining in the Maningory watershed, Madagascar

An increasing share of Madagascar’s population is dependent on artisanal and small-scale mining (AMS) as a source of livelihood. However, this unregulated activity has numerous repercussions on the miners themselves and on neighboring communities. This study explores the perception of mining of those indirectly affected by its growing presence. Farmers and fishers were interviewed to better understand the perceived impacts of AMS on communities situated at varying distances from mining activity. The results of this first qualitative study show that positive or negative perception may be linked to geographical distance to mines. Those living in mining-communities may reap more benefits from the proximity than those living further away, who mainly experiencing negative effects. The results from this small sample will need to further be empirically tested. Resume Une part croissante de la population de Madagascar tire l’essentiel de ses moyens de subsistance de l’exploitation miniere artisanale et a petite echelle. Cependant, cette activite non-reglementee a de nombreuses repercussions sur les mineurs eux-memes et sur les communautes voisines. Cette etude explore comment les riverains indirectement touches percoivent l’exploitation miniere qu’ils rencontrent de plus en plus souvent. Des paysans et des pecheurs de communautes basees a des distances variees des activites minieres ont ete interviewes afin de mieux comprendre les impacts percus de l’exploitation miniere artisanale. Les resultats de cette premiere etude qualitative montrent que des perceptions positives ou negatives pourraient etre liees a la distance entre les lieux de vie des communautes et les mines. Les habitants vivant au sein de communautes minieres pourraient tirer plus de profit de cette proximite que ceux vivant plus loin et ressentant principalement des effets negatifs. Les resultats de ce premier echantillon devront etre verifies de maniere empirique.