Evaluation of research project: training and policy guidelines for artisanal quarrying.

51 Pages·2004·2.33 MB·English

INTERMEDIATE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT GROUP
BUILDING MATERIALS AND SHELTER PROGRAMME
EVALUATION OF RESEARCH PROJECT
TRAINING AND POLICY GUIDELINES FOR ARTISANAL QUARRYING
KENYA, MAY 1999
By Asher Shadmon
Assisted by Sam Gakunga
:ONTENTS
...............................................................................................................
AND REC( iNDATIONS 2
LOGICAL FRAM ...................................... 2
ACHIEVEMENTS ......................... ................................................. 2
Socio-economic .....................
........................................................................................................................................................
SHORTCOMINGS 3
........................................................................................................................................................................
LESSONS 3
........................................................................................................................................................
IMPROVEMENTS 3
.............................................................................................................................................................
BACKGROUND 4
STONE QUARRYINIGN KENYA... ................................................................................................................................... 4
.........................................................................................................................................................
METHODOLOGY 8
..........................................................................................................................................
LOGICAL FRAMEWORK 8
STRENGTHENED QUARRY WORKERS INSTITUTIONS ................................................................................... 8
UPGRADING OF TECHNOLOGY/ ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ....................................................................... 9
MARKETING APPROACH ........................................................................................................................................ 9
POLICY ....................................................................................................................................................................... 9
ACHIEVEMENTS ..................................................................................................................................................... 10
SHORTCOMINGS .................................................................................................................................................... 11
LESSON ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11
......................................................................................................................................................
IMPROVEMENTS 13
TECHNOLOGIES ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
......................................................................................................................................
VISITS AND INTERVIEWS 15
CONTACTWS ITHQ UARRYO PERATORAST SEVERAQLu ........................... 15
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MEETING WITH HARRY NDUNG'U DEPAR ........................... 16
VISIT TO 2 MECHANISED QUARRIES IN JUJA ........................... 17
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INTER VIEW WITH JOHNSU?+'illJARIA CONSULTANT HELD ON 6THM AY 1999 ......................
INTERVIEW WITH QUARRY OWNERS ASSOCIATION - OLOOLUA .............................................
.......................................................................................................................................
INSTITUTIONALISATION 22
PROMOTIONS .................................................................................................. .................................................. 23
.......................................................................................................................................................................
FUTURE 25
MARKETING ............................................................................................................................................................ 25
EXPORT POTENTIAL ............................................................................................................................................. 25
SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER ... ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
APPENDIX 1. .. DRAFT KENYA STANDARD FOR GRANITE TILES AND SLABS
APPENDIX 2 DRAFT KENYA STANDARD FOR MARBLE TILES AND SLABS
APPENDIX 3 KENYA SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, AMENDMENT TO MINING ACT
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LOGICAL FRAMEWORK
In general project inputs have been channeled through activities to produce significant
and relevant outputs. In this regard, the project is on target towards attaining improved
incomes and employment in stone quarrying. This is being achieved through
strengthened Quarry Workers Institutions, upgraded technology, environmental
awareness, improved marketing and policy lobbying.
The challenges lies in converting outputs as defined in the logical framework into
operational outcomes and ultimately sustainable impact.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Socio-economic
There is awareness of the project by all the participants and unequivocal agreement that
the project is an eye opener.
Realisation that involvement can be rationalised and interacting groups formed:
maturity achieved opens the way to technical operational outputs.
S
participants training groups in management and book-keeping
S
rn recognition of brokers as a reliable marketing avenue
formation of a broker association
S
compilation of field studies and reports
S
organisation of training courses
S
strengthe n ing of marketing
S
guidelines on quarry acquisition
S
project monitoring
Technical
Environmental
rn soil replacement in designated place
land re-afforestation
rn
establishment of community seedling nursery
S
a development of manual on environmental sensitivity.
Establishment of consistent dialogue with government environmental
rn
authorities.
Extraction Related
identification of quarries
S
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quarrying tools improvement manual
training on quarry practice improvement
introduction of benching for rehabilitation
progress reached is now beyond the concept stage and tool improvement
to be translated into stone working systems.
Shortcomings
There has been delay in practical hands-on demonstration at the quarry sites. There is
also a lack of agreed terminology and standards for tuffs.
Lessons
The project has achieved awareness non-existent before 1991. Measurable indicators
are expressed as documents. Architects require specifications, standardisation and
consistency. The project is leading to the establishment of a Stone Centre.
Improvements
More erriphasis should be laid on systems than on individual tools' replacement. Safety
requires more attention. The possibility of silicosis should be attended to.
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Stone Quarrying in Kenya
Stone Quarrying in Kenya is a significant jua kali (informal sector) employer, involving
land owners, quarry owners, concession holders (who lease the land and extract stone
for sale) and quarry workers (both skilled and unskilled). This latter group is usually totally
dependent on proceeds from quarrying for their livelihood. In the Nairobi area alone, this
sector directly employs an estimated 10,000 workers. Nationally, the estimated number of
employees in the quarrying sector is 40,000.
Stone as a building material is in great and growing demand because of the booming
construction industry. This is particularly so in the mechanised quarries in Juja and
elsewhere and until recently in the project area which serves Nairobi (the Ngong division
of Kajiado district, approximately 13 kilometres south-west of Nairobi) where geological
surveys have revealed that local stone reserves are sufficient for at least the next 50
years. However, demand far exceeds supply and many housing developers use concrete
blocks as an expensive but more accessible and standardised alternative.
The main processes in quarrying include the clearance of the overburden of soil, drilling,
blasting, splitting and dressing of stone. Most of the tools used to execute these
processes are crude and poorly maintained. They are made from mild steel (relatively
soft because of a low carbon content) and require regular sharpening. This lowers
production rates and hence income rates. Much stone is wasted because of poor tools
and poor extraction methods. While innovative use of stone is evident on building sites,
there is hardly any innovation in the extraction and shaphg of stones at the quarries.
The quarries produce stones of poor quality in terms of dimension and structural strength,
which need to be redressed by builders before use. Prices reflect these shortcomings.
There is no institutionalised training in this sector for those who would like to improve
their skills. Most quarry workers have learned the job on site and skills learned are often
inadequate. Quarries frequently become waterlogged or inaccessible due to poor access
roads and drainage. Rehabilitation of the land after mining is often inadequate. Unsafe
blasting practices have deafened, injured or killed many workers. For these and other
reasons, quarries have frequently been closed by environmentalists and government
agents and quarry workers have found themselves without income. For workers who find
themselves in this situation there are neither formal institutional structures through which
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they can address their concerns nor legally binding agreements to offer them security or
The marketing function in this region is largely in the hands of stone transporters.
Preliminary market research indicates that transporters rather than quarry workers
currently receive the largest share of returns from quarrying, particularly if they own their
own vehicle. Prices appear to have quadrupled for transport since 1990 and there is
evidence that drivers are operating a price cartel. Price is also related to the quality of the
stone (shape of blocks/quality of cutting), the quantities demanded (regular and bulk
buyers get a better deal) and the time of purchase (sellers often drop prices e.g. on
Saturday night).
Current constraints to efficient quarrying include poor quarrying practices, inappropriate
tools, inefficient management of personnel and resources, poor working conditions, high
mobility among quarry workers and lack of marketing strategies. These constraints result
in wastage of resources, reduced productivity, poor health and safety conditions for
workers, exploitation of workers by land/quarry owners (who own the stone) and by
transporters (who take the stone to the market), unstable incomes and environmental
damage.
The KISWOP objectives were identified in a mutual way by quarry co-operative
representatives and relevant government officials from the project area. This is the
Ngong Division of Kajiado District, south west of Nairobi.
KISWOP aims are to be achieved in 10 quarries initially, by:
strengthening quarry worker institutions;
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improving quarrying tools and equipment;
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developing environmentally efficient quarrying practices;
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improving marketing strategies;
e
Influencing policy makers;
e
The project is supported by the research findings of an ongoing Training and Policy
Guidelines (TPG) programme, managed by IT-Kenya. This is essentially a research
programme which aims to meet the needs of an international audience. However, the
TPG programme offers considerable support to KISWOP by confirming the validity of
grassroots initiatives, by providing relevant research information (which will contribute to
activity planning) and through the provision of relevant training materials. Jointly,
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KISWOP and the TPG project demonstrate the value of operating a grassroots approach
and a research approach simultaneously and collaboratively.
KISWOP's direct beneficiaries include not only the quarry workers and owners but also
blacksmiths and food sellers as part of the wider quarry community. Indirectly, the project
also assists transporters, builders and end users of stone.
IT-Kenya's role is one of facilitation rather than management. Through KISWOP, partners
will gain the capacity and experience to initiate, organise and manage the process of
change that must continue beyond the involvement of IT-Kenya.
Intermediate Technology Kenya: the Wider Programme
In 1990, IT'S office in Kenya commissioned a study on the dimension stone and
aggregate quarrying industry , following research on the building materials industry. This
was the first significant study of stone resources since one commissioned by the Ministry
of Mines in the 1960's.
In summary the main findings of the 1990 report were:
Stone quarrying and processing are carried out by a large number of small scale
concession holders.
There are no effective well organised formally structured bodies covering stone
quarrying and trading activities.
Quarrying and processing is mainly operated as informal sector work.
Traditional labour-intensive stone quarrying methods 'are showing no signs of
modernisation or improvement.
There is no institutionalised training available.
A lot of stone is wasted due to poor methods of quarrying and processing.
Productivity and production appear to be falling over time, yet the demand for
stone is increasing.
Costs vary substantially between quarries, partly due to the quality of labour input.
Market prices are not controlled.
Most laws governing quarrying are not enforced.
There is great potential for reducing environmental damage caused by the
industry.
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Attempts in 1990 to initiate a pilot project to further investigate opportunities to introduce
change failed due to lack of donor interest and pressure from the local District
Environment Committee which was intent at that time on closing down rather than
modernising quarrying. However, by 1994 interest had been rekindled by heightened
awareness of adverse environmental problems and recognition of the need to improve
the supply of high quality building stone to ever-growing urban markets.
IT-Kenya had maintained an open dialogue with central government officials since 1990
and was now encouraged to pursue the issues surrounding quarrying by government and
others involved in the industry. Consequently, in May 1994, IT-Kenya organised a
workshop in Nairobi on "Maximising the Production and Use of Dimension Stone".
Participants were drawn from all key sectors in the stone industry, including members of
Government, NGOs, quarry workers' co-operatives working in the Ngong region, private
consultants and small-scale building contractors. The workshop's main aim was to
identify the technical, institutional and management issues affecting the stone industry
and to design and develop improved approaches that would minimise these constraints.
Key concerns and possible solutions were identified during the workshop. These remain
the crucial issues as has been reinforced at numerous subsequent workshops.
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1. Quarry waste about 45% of stone extracted ends up as quarry chippings due to
poor quarrying and processing methods. Waste could be reduced if explosives
were less frequently used and if profitable uses for chippings could be identified
e.g. for road construction or use in the cement industry.
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2. Environmental degradation including deforestation and flooding of land,
requires that different extraction methods are used (such as benching) and
reclamation of land becomes mandatory (by replacing soil and by tree planting).
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3. Safety which is largely ignored, could be improved if explosives were less
frequently used and if protective clothing was worn.
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4. Identification of stone reserves no professional survey work is done,
consequently quarries are rarely worked out before they are abandoned.
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5. Lack of working and start-up capital financial institutions should offer loans to
quarry workers unions; co-operatives should organise credit and savings
schemes.
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6. Harassment by land owners clear and legally binding agreements are needed
to stipulate each party's role particularly with regard to cost-sharing.
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7. Marketing quarry workers are too dependent on transporters for access to the
market; often quarries are inaccessible by road for part of the year.
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8. Tools and technology could be enhanced to improve productivity in terms of
quality and quantity.
9. Policy - with no institutional reference points, policy implementation and advocacy
for change are ineffective.
METHODOLOGY
The methodology employed consists mainly of a review of the existing literature at IT
Kenya and from the Library of the Department of Mines and Geology. Background socio-
economic statistics were also obtained from the library of the International Development
Research Centre (IDRC) as well as unstructured interviews with people identified as key
informants by IT. The interviewees included the project team at IT Kenya, quarry
operators in Ngong and Juja as well as staff of the Department of Mines and Geology in
the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. The initial findings were presented to
a workshop attended by a wide variety of stakeholders at IT'S Nairobi offices on 11 May,
1999.
LOGICAL FRAMEWORK
STRENGTHENED QUARRY WORKERS INSTITUTIONS
The efforts of IT at organising the various stakeholders at the quarries have clearly had
impact. The associations of quarry operators at Oloolua is evidently very well organised
and focussed. The Chairman indicated that what seemed like difficult issues before
(citing indicators with the Forestry Department) has been much easier by acting jointly. It
is clear that this is a group of entrepreneurs who are not risk averse operating, as they
do, in a hostile environment fraught with insecurity including having to renew their tenure
annually. In this regard, ITDG - KENYA has taken the right approach and sought to
facilitate and not manage the process. There is evidence that the quarry owners, with
support in terms of information and contacts, are driving the agenda of this project.
A brokers' association has been established. This group built and opened an office in
Bulbul set strategically near the "entrance" to the quarries. It would appear that the plot
on which this was set up has been repossessed by the local administration. It was
observed that the Association has set the Brokers up to discussing the situation which is
by its very nature tenacious. They are commission agents and their role diminishes over
time as buyers, sellers and transporters constantly tend towards "cutting out the middle
man". Maybe because brokers are not essentially risk taking entrepreneurs, their
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empowerment and self-generation is not as much in evidence as that of the quarry
operators. However, IT has succeeded in setting of crucial and practical thinking among
them about the way ahead.
The Association of Quarry Workers was in the process of being registered . While quarry
workers have attended a series if workshop on better quarrying practices, actual work on
strengthening their Association is scheduled for the financial year starting April 1999.
Potentially useful lessons exists and have been collated by IT from the situation of
migrant quarry and mine workers in India which should inform this process.
UPGRADING OF TECHNOLOGY/ ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
A detailed assessment of the status of output towards achieving this objectives has been
provided in great detail in ensuing sections of this reports.
MARKETING APPROACH
The entire project can trace back its reason for existence to the issue of marketing. The
Oloolua Quarry that partner IT in this project are facing increasingly stiff competition from
the mechanised quarries in Juja and elsewhere. They have also suffered also of adverse
publicity in which they are accused of unsound environmental practices which has
resulted in a legal suit instituted by an association of residents neighbouring the quarries
as well as making the renewal of annual quarrying licenses extremely difficult.
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The entire process of upgrading the technology described and assessed in great detail
elsewhere in this report - is aimed at making the product more competitive as well as
addressing crucial environmental issues.
IT has produced a training manual on marketing which is due for pre-testing. However,
Mary Gachau, the confident assistant secretary of the operators' association feels that
once they get the technology right all else will fall into place. She stated that their
location is strategic and their tuff preferred by contractors.
POLICY
This project has successfully brought all those holding a stake in the business of quarry
in Ngong together which is in itself unprecedented. IT has also convened various for a to
discuss issues concerning this sector.
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