Investigate the Uses of Goats and Socioeconomic Impact of Peste des Petits Ruminant on Farmers Engaged in Diamond Mining in Tongo Field

Abstract

**Background:** There is a paradigm shift in the uses of goats during the twenty-first century. In time past, people raise goats for prestige and festivals. Today, people rear goat for financial, spiritual, cultural, religious, mental and sacrificial purposes. Goat rearing has become a major source of income in Africa and Sierra Leone in particular. Goats are primary and immediate source of cash when it becomes herculean to get diamonds during mining. The illicit miners sacrifice brown goats before and during extraction to appease the spirits. Goat rearing becomes the industrial life -supporting machine for vast majority of illicit diamond miners and other business people in Tongo Field. Peste des Petits Ruminant is the major disease affecting most of the goats in Tongo Field. The study investigates the socioeconomic impact of Peste des Petits ruminant on goat farmers engaged in diamond mining in Tongo Field. The Objective: The objective of the research is to investigate the uses and measure the socio-economic impact of PPR disease on goat farmers in six sections in Tongo field Method: A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 10 randomly selected household heads in each of the six sections. A blind ballot selector dips into a bag and select a number designated to receive questionnaire for interview. The selected person receive one questionnaire and complete or assisted by the interviewee. Informal discussion, desktop review and observational techniques were used to obtain additional information. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS and presented in form of tables, charts and graphs for proper interpretation.

**Result:** Goat farmers in Tongo field six sections practice free-range 65%, and tethering 35%. The primary purpose of rearing goats is for income 100% and rituals 35%. The main challenge of goat rearing is PPR disease 100%, and the mortality ranges between 1-5 animals per family household at 53.3%.

**Conclusion:** In conclusion, goat production is an important source of income to address both socio-economic, cultural issues, and emergencies, thereby reducing the harsh economic risk incurred from diamond mining.