Perspectives and experiences of the effects of quarrying on the environment and agricultural activities of the quarry communities in akamkpa local government area of cross river state, Nigeria

Introduction: Akamkpa Local government area in Cross River State, Nigeria in naturally endowed with granite and limestone. This has attracted several quarry industries into the area to exploit these abundant natural resource. Although the quarry industries have brought some infrastructural and pecuniary benefits to the communities, there are equally attendant effects of the quarry activities on the physical and social well-being of the inhabitants living in proximity to the quarry sites. Method: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out to determine the environmental and social effects of quarrying on the selected quarry communities in Akamkpa LGA of Cross River State, Nigeria. Two hundred and ninety-one copies of the study questionnaire were retrieved from the respondents for analysis. Results: The findings of this study showed that the quarrying activities have impacted negatively on the people and the environment. Noise was a major concern to the respondents. 78 (27%) of them complained about noise alone; while 99 (34%) of the respondents complained about noise in addition to vibrations and dust haze. Additionally, the respondents complained about air and water pollution and its effect on their farming activates. 50 (17.5%) of the respondents reported a decline in their current agricultural yield compared to previous harvests about five years ago. Conclusion: Although quarry activities, created employment and generate wealth for community members, there were equally associated short term adverse effects and long term negative impact on the environment and the livelihoods of the community members. Some residents have sold their farmlands to the quarry firms, while other residents have abandoned farming altogether. The loss of farmlands and other quarry-related factors had resulted in poor agricultural yields over the years. Effort should therefore be geared towards reclaiming abandoned quarries by earth-filling them for agricultural purposes to boost declining food production in the quarry communities.