« Si jamais cela s’avère, ce sera la fin de l’élevage dans cette zone. »
A l’évocation de l’impact présent des entreprises minières, El Hadj Amadou Sow et ses collègues éleveurs venus à l’occasion du marché hebdomadaire de Diogo ont surtout à l’esprit l’avenir de leur activité.
Pour cause la rumeur courante ces temps-ci sur une velléité de cession d’un des seuls espaces non encore occupés à une industrie extractive qui fait débat en leur sein.
Un affolement injustifié pour le moment mais qui renseigne sur la tension autour des zones de pâturages de plus en plus réduites car comme le confie Amadou Sow : « c’est devenu très pénible depuis l’implantation des entreprises minières ».
Contrairement aux propriétaires de terre, les éleveurs ne sont pas concernés par les indemnisations.
Ils estiment pourtant que l’itinéraire de leurs bêtes est tout autant obstrué voire occupé par les installations minières alors que plus au Nord « la poussière qui se dépose sur l’herbe rend malades nos animaux » affirme le soixantenaire Amadou Sow en indiquant les abords du périmètre d’exploitation des ICS.
La pollution générée par les Industries Chimiques du Sénégal indispose également Fama Sow* venue abreuver son troupeau à Méouane.
Aux alentours, des dizaines de moutons faméliques et plusieurs bœufs encadrés par leurs propriétaires en attendant leur tour au bassin.
Pour Fama, ces animaux à l’allure peu fameuse sont affectés autant que les siens par une alimentation douteuse, « polluée », c’est le mot que se passent les éleveurs qui pointent surtout du doigt les Industries Chimiques du Sénégal peu enclines à s’exprimer sur le sujet malgré les différentes interpellations.
Voir la vidéo, l'élevage en zone minière (et polluée) à Meouane
Cheikh Ahmed Bamba Thiam, Médecin Chef de Poste Vétérinaire de l’arrondissement partage leur crainte même s’il se veut prudent sur la question par manque de preuve scientifique. Ce qui ne l’empêche pas d’affirmer être sûr « à quasiment 75 à 80% » que ces maladies ont pour origine l’exploitation minière : « Je suis médecin, quand j’ai des maladies qui se répètent dans une zone, je regarde ce qu’elles ont en commun c’est normal que je puisse avoir des suspicions que ce soit lié à l’activité à côté. »
A côté de la diarrhée décriée par les éleveurs, il évoque des cas récurrents de péripneumonie et autres infections pulmonaires liés à la pollution de l’air qui se manifestent par une toux permanente des animaux.
Si les méfaits sont connus, les alternatives à l’alimentation du cheptel sont rares pour leurs propriétaires : « c’est une zone où est surtout pratiqué l’élevage intensif, les animaux ne divaguent pas si ce n’est dans la zone de pâturage située dans les villages de Massar, Keur Mory ou Ndombil » renseigne le Médecin Vétérinaire.
Les éleveurs sont ainsi réduits à laisser paître leur bétail dans des zones à risques : « Leurs aliments coûtent cher, on ne peut pas se baser dessus pour faire vivre nos animaux » déclare Amadou Sow.
Par ailleurs, la situation génère un impact considérable sur la productivité du bétail. « Vous voyez comme ils sont maigres, ils n’arrivent même plus à produire assez de lait » estime Fama Sow. « Si je ne vois pas de bête satisfaisante, je n’achète pas » affirme également un boucher trouvé au Marché de Diogo.
La consommation de produits issus de l’élevage dans la zone est aussi une équation à en croire le Vétérinaire Cheikh Thiam. Prenant l’exemple du lait local d’habitude consommé sans transformation préalable, il estime qu’il peut être à l’origine de complications sanitaires : « Il contient exactement ce que contient l’animal : si l’animal est malade, le virus se trouve également dans le lait ».
*Nom d'emprunt
Translation:
MEOUANE: LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT UNDER THREAT OF MINERAL EXPLOITATION
The farmers of Méouane lead their herds in a mining zone where are implanted the Chemical Industries of Senegal and GCO, factory of extraction of Zircon. They believe that their daily activity is hindered by the reduction of grazing lands and pollution from mining companies. "If that ever happens, it will be the end of breeding in this area.
" At the mention of the present impact of the mining companies, El Hadj Amadou Sow and his fellow breeders who came to the Diogo Weekly Market have especially in mind the future of their activity. For causing the current rumor these days about a desire to sell one of the only spaces not yet occupied by an extractive industry that is debated between them.
An unjustified panic for the moment but which informs about the tension around the areas of pastures more and more reduced because as confided Amadou Sow: "it has become very painful since the establishment of the mining companies".
Unlike landowners, farmers are not affected by compensation. However, they believe that the route of their animals is just as obstructed or even occupied by the mining facilities while further north "the dust that settles on the grass makes sick our animals," says the sixty-year-old Amadou Sow indicating the approaches to the operating scope of the ICS. The pollution generated by the Chemical Industries of Senegal also indisposes Fama Sow * who came to water his flock in Méouane. In the neighborhood, dozens of starving sheep and several oxen framed by their owners while waiting for their turn to the basin.
For Fama, these animals with the not-so-famous pace are affected as much as theirs by a doubtful food, "polluted", it is the word that the pastoralists who are pointing the finger especially at the ICS who are reluctant to open up on the subject despite the various arrests. Watch the video, breeding in the mining zone (and polluted) in Meouane.
Cheikh Ahmed Bamba Thiam, Chief Medical Officer of the Borough shares their fear even if he wants to be cautious on the issue for lack of scientific proof. What does not prevent him from asserting to be sure "at almost 75 to 80%" that these diseases have for origin the mining: " I am a doctor, when I see a case become very recurrent in an area, I look at what they have in common it's normal that I can have suspicions that this is related to the activity next door. "
In addition to diarrhea reported by the breeders, it mentions recurrent cases of peripneumonia and other pulmonary infections linked to air pollution that are manifested by a permanent coughing of the animals.
If the misdeeds are known, the alternatives to the feeding of the herd are rare for their owners: "it is an area where is mainly practiced the intensive breeding, the animals do not wander except in the grazing zone located in the villages of Massar, Keur Mory or Ndombil "informs the Veterinary Doctor.
Farmers are thus reduced to grazing their livestock in risky areas: "Their food is expensive, we can not rely on it to support our animals," says Amadou Sow.
In addition, the situation has a significant impact on livestock productivity. "You see how thin they are, they can not even produce enough milk," says Fama Sow. "If I do not see a satisfactory animal, I do not buy," says a butcher found at Diogo Market.
The consumption of livestock products in the area is also an equation, according to veterinarian Cheikh Thiam. Taking the example of local milk usually consumed without prior processing, he believes that it can be the source of health complications: "It contains exactly what the animal contains: if the animal is sick, the virus is also in the milk.
Translation:
MEOUANE: LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT UNDER THREAT OF MINERAL EXPLOITATION
The farmers of Méouane lead their herds in a mining zone where are implanted the Chemical Industries of Senegal and GCO, factory of extraction of Zircon. They believe that their daily activity is hindered by the reduction of grazing lands and pollution from mining companies. "If that ever happens, it will be the end of breeding in this area.
" At the mention of the present impact of the mining companies, El Hadj Amadou Sow and his fellow breeders who came to the Diogo Weekly Market have especially in mind the future of their activity. For causing the current rumor these days about a desire to sell one of the only spaces not yet occupied by an extractive industry that is debated between them.
An unjustified panic for the moment but which informs about the tension around the areas of pastures more and more reduced because as confided Amadou Sow: "it has become very painful since the establishment of the mining companies".
Unlike landowners, farmers are not affected by compensation. However, they believe that the route of their animals is just as obstructed or even occupied by the mining facilities while further north "the dust that settles on the grass makes sick our animals," says the sixty-year-old Amadou Sow indicating the approaches to the operating scope of the ICS. The pollution generated by the Chemical Industries of Senegal also indisposes Fama Sow * who came to water his flock in Méouane. In the neighborhood, dozens of starving sheep and several oxen framed by their owners while waiting for their turn to the basin.
For Fama, these animals with the not-so-famous pace are affected as much as theirs by a doubtful food, "polluted", it is the word that the pastoralists who are pointing the finger especially at the ICS who are reluctant to open up on the subject despite the various arrests. Watch the video, breeding in the mining zone (and polluted) in Meouane.
Cheikh Ahmed Bamba Thiam, Chief Medical Officer of the Borough shares their fear even if he wants to be cautious on the issue for lack of scientific proof. What does not prevent him from asserting to be sure "at almost 75 to 80%" that these diseases have for origin the mining: " I am a doctor, when I see a case become very recurrent in an area, I look at what they have in common it's normal that I can have suspicions that this is related to the activity next door. "
In addition to diarrhea reported by the breeders, it mentions recurrent cases of peripneumonia and other pulmonary infections linked to air pollution that are manifested by a permanent coughing of the animals.
If the misdeeds are known, the alternatives to the feeding of the herd are rare for their owners: "it is an area where is mainly practiced the intensive breeding, the animals do not wander except in the grazing zone located in the villages of Massar, Keur Mory or Ndombil "informs the Veterinary Doctor.
Farmers are thus reduced to grazing their livestock in risky areas: "Their food is expensive, we can not rely on it to support our animals," says Amadou Sow.
In addition, the situation has a significant impact on livestock productivity. "You see how thin they are, they can not even produce enough milk," says Fama Sow. "If I do not see a satisfactory animal, I do not buy," says a butcher found at Diogo Market.
The consumption of livestock products in the area is also an equation, according to veterinarian Cheikh Thiam. Taking the example of local milk usually consumed without prior processing, he believes that it can be the source of health complications: "It contains exactly what the animal contains: if the animal is sick, the virus is also in the milk.
