Alternative Livelihood Development Programme

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources under the Mining Community Development Scheme of the Minerals Development Fund initiated the Alternative Livelihood Development Programme to ensure socio-economic development of people living in the Mining Communities especially, for those who are engaged in illegal mining or galamsey. Mineral resources are exhaustible and for that matter, there should be a reliable plan to ensure sustainable environment and livelihood of people.

In 2017, the Minerals Development Fund commenced the distribution of One (1) Million Hybrid Oil Palm Seedlings to Mining Communities as alternative to galamsey annually. The new phase of the programme is designed to capture the youth and women in the deprived areas to enable income generation for better life. This is in line with The President’s drive to eradicate illegal mining by providing viable attractive alternative livelihood employment opportunities. This will help arrest the pollution of water bodies, degradation of lands and destruction of forest reserves by illegal miners. The programme creates job opportunities for the youth and the beneficiary communities and enabled parents to cater for their wards in school.