Federal Republic of Nigeria Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Staple Crop Processing Zones Support Project (scpz)

Agricultural activities

4. 
   Environmental
   

• 
  Interference on biodiversity conservation (changes in flora and fauna)
  
• 
  Cultivation of only cassava may alter natural vegetation;
  
• 
  Fire prevention and control
  

• 
  Alterations of local natural water cycles/ hydrology
  
• 
  Weirs create a barrier across the river that can lead to water rationing for the downstream riparian communities
  
• 
  Weirs can be dangerous with regard to safety
  
• 
  Water quality issues
  

• 
  Cassava cultivation continuous growth deplete soil fertility and grown on slope provides little protection from the direct impact of rainfall
  
• 
  Changes in soil nutrient cycles (fertility and carbon storage capacity)
  
• 
  Soil structure and surface layer disruption due to agronomic practices
  

• 
  Degradation due to vehicular movement, mobilization of equipment
  
• 
  Deterioration from burning of biomass of cleared forest and addition of carbon into atmosphere
  

• 
  Cassava is a drought-tolerant crop but long drought affects its growth especially when it occurs after planting
  
• 
  Cassava tubers rot if waterlogging stays longer than a week
  

• 
  Lethal and sub-lethal impacts on other non-target biota;
  
• 
  ‘Pesticide treadmill’- higher and higher doses of pesticides required to control pest populations that develop resistance and elimination of pest predators.
  
• 
  Washed out of soils, and pollute rivers and groundwater
  
• 
  Intake of toxic chemicals by plants, animals and humans
  
• 
  Improper use, contamination by high exposure due to no or poor precautionary measures leading to health impacts
  

• 
  Agricultural waste, fertiliser and chemical containers improper disposal
  

• 
  SOCIAL
  

• 
  Land acquisition and compensation issues
  
• 
  increased values in land prices leading to economic displacement of poor land tenants
  

• 
  Loss of fallow and agricultural Land
  
• 
  Loss of employment (land based wage employment and workers)
  
• 
  Elimination of smallholder farmers
  
• 
  Increasing demand for lands for farming/ settlements by fringe communities because productive lands not available;
  

• 
  Chance finds of cultural resources
  
• 
  Interference with local cultural identity and heritage
  

• 
  Restriction and outright loss of grazing ground
  
• 
  Social exclusion of women or the vulnerable persons
  

• 
  Increase in traffic on the roads
  
• 
  Accident to people and animals
  

• 
  Lack of awareness creation programs on health and safety including chemical handling.
  
• 
  Unavailability and poor use of personal protective equipment and limited/ no enforcement process
  
• 
  Influx of people resulting in spread of communication diseases
  

• 
  Safety and security of community informants/ whistle blowers
  
• 
  Safety and security of project field staff
  

Dealing with waste,

• 
  Pollution of Waters
  
• 
  Pollution of environment due to processing with high concentration of organic matter, cyanide and processing chemicals
  
• 
  Solid wastes Generation lead to foul odor, especially from the final slurry waste and leachates formed by rain
  
• 
  Visual impacts due to unsightly stagnant ponds and ditches
  
• 
  Dust emissions from milling operations
  

Transmission Lines, Water supply system, Access Roads,, etc

Site clearing and/or leveling with

• 
  Damage to sensitive terrestrial ecosystems (changes in flora and fauna)
  
• 
  Development of bare soil which cause erosion, siltation, changes in natural water flow, and/or damage to aquatic ecosystems
  
• 
  Endangering of Species (flora and fauna
  

• 
  Alterations in local natural water cycles/ hydrology
  
• 
  Scour and erosion below unprotected drainage out falls
  
• 
  Disruption of groundwater or drinking or irrigation water
  

• 
  Landslides or other forms of mass instability on slopes
  
• 
  Development of erosion or gullies
  
• 
  Crosses of major areas of deep- seated instability
  
• 
  When excavated soil is piled inappropriately cause erosion, siltation, changes in natural water flow, and damage to aquatic ecosystems
  
• 
  Destroy valuable ecosystems when fill is inappropriately placed such as on water courses and land subsidence
  
• 
  Exposure of inhabitants and crew to risk of falls and injuries in excavation pits
  

• 
  Degradation due to vehicular movement, mobilization of equipment, construction activities such as earthworks,
  
• 
  Deterioration from burning of biomass from clearing and addition of carbon into atmosphere
  

• 
  
  
• 
  Cause erosion due to machinery tracks, damage to roads, stream banks
  
• 
  Compact soil, change surface and groundwater flows, and adversely affect future use for agriculture
  
• 
  Contaminate ground or surface water when hydraulic oil, motor oil or other harmful mechanical fluids are spilled or dumped
  
• 
  Put workers at risk from exposure to hazardous materials
  
• 
  Spills, leaks or injuries from any type of hazardous material (e.g. bitumen, cement, paint, explosives, fuels, lubricants)
  
• 
  Improper use, contamination by high exposure, no precautionary measures leading to health impacts
  
• 
  High volume of waste/spoil
  
• 
  Spoil tipped away from designated areas and failing or being washed on the farmland
  

• 
  Construction and other types of waste generated
  

• 
  SOCIAL
  

• 
  Displacement due (i) to affected persons living or engaged in livelihood activity within the right of way; or (ii) for technical or safety reasons, the infrastructure route departs from the existing alignment and affects persons living or engaged in livelihood activities with the altered right of way.
  

• 
  Damage local habitat, compact soil, and create erosion via building and occupation of construction camp
  
• 
  Contaminate surface water and spread disease via solid waste and faeces generated by camp Spread communicable diseases including malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS via construction crew who come from outside the region
  
• 
  Introduce alcohol or other socially destructive substances via construction crew
  
• 
  Adversely affect local flora and fauna (especially game and fuel wood) via poaching and collection by construction crews
  
• 
  Generate trash due to lack of solid waste management
  

• 
  Need to realign utility supply lines
  
• 
  Increase in traffic and interruption of local traffic
  

• 
  Safety and security of community informants/ whistle blowers
  
• 
  Safety and security of project field staff
  
• 
  Increased vehicular speed that could lead to significant increases in accident rates for both human and animal populations.
  
• 
  Operation of machinery endangers both operators and laborers
  
• 
  Poorly planned borrow pits and quarries pose threats, ranging from falls from quarry faces to drowning in quarry pits that have become standing water reservoirs
  

• 
  Road crew members from other geographic areas can spread various health problems, especially
  
• 
  HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), to local populations
  
• 
  Accidents from operation of construction equipment
  
• 
  Accident due to disorganized site
  
• 
  Unavailability and poor use of personal protective equipment and limited/ no enforcement process
  
• 
  Explosion/leakage of gas from pipeline
  

• 
  Alteration of socio-cultural values and the stability of communities adversely affected by
  
• 
  Exposure to rapid social change or tourism.
  
• 
  Graveyards and Sacred Areas
  
• 
  Excavation may reveal archaeological or other valuable cultural resources which could be physically damaged from construction activities.
  

• 
  Local people excluded from project activities
  
• 
  Promises made to local people during feasibility and planning phases
  
• 
  pastoralists likely to lose grazing grounds for their livestock
  

• 
  Failure of equipment and facilities