Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining, Agriculture, and Food Security in Semi-Arid Zimbabwe: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This systematic literature review explores the links between artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), agricultural productivity, and food security in the semi-arid regions of Africa. ASM has emerged as a key economic activity in Southern Africa, with ASM activities employing over a million people and contributing substantially to national gold production in the region. The review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses and incorporates peer-reviewed journals and socioeconomic data published between 2010 and 2025, with the quality of the literature assessed with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The literature suggests that ASM contributes to food security in the short term and provides a market for foodstuffs for many households. However, ASM is also linked with environmental degradation and conflict around land use and agriculture, which impacts agricultural productivity negatively. There is a need for an integrated approach to address the links between mining and agriculture to improve food security in the face of climate variability in the semi-arid regions of Africa.