Herdsmen-Farmer Conflicts and Their Effects on Agricultural Productivity and Rural Livelihoods

محورهای موضوعی : Extension and Economic

Thomas Tope Afolayan ¹ , Adewale Isaac Olutumise ² , Adegboyega Eyitayo Oguntade ³ , Temitope Olanrewaju Bello ⁴ , Lawrence Olusola Oparinde ⁵ , Olanrewaju Peter Oladoyin ⁶

1 - Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704
2 - Department of Agricultural Economics, Adekunle Ajasin University, P.M.B. 001, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria
3 - Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704
4 - Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704
5 - 3Department of Agricultural Markets, Institute of Agricultural Policy and Markets, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
6 - Department of Agricultural Economics, Adekunle Ajasin University, P.M.B. 001, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria

تاریخ دریافت : 1403/08/15 تاریخ پذیرش : 1403/09/30 تاریخ انتشار : 1403/10/05

کلید واژه: Agricultural productivity, conflict resolution, food security, principal component analysis, probit regression, Nigeria,

چکیده مقاله :

The study investigates the causes and effects of herdsmen-farmer conflicts in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Primary data were gathered through structured questionnaires, interviews, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). A multistage sampling method randomly selected 210 arable crop farmers and 70 herdsmen. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and probit regression. Findings indicate that the primary perceived causes of conflict among farmers included crop destruction (mean = 3.94), uncontrolled grazing (3.85), indiscriminate bush burning (3.79), and contamination of streams by cattle (3.79). Conversely, herdsmen identified encroachment of grazing routes (3.72), language barriers and cultural differences (3.67), crop destruction (3.65), and inadequate grazing reserves (3.64) as major causes. PCA analysis of the perceived effects on arable crop farmers revealed that the conflicts caused decreased farm output, destruction of crops, unsafe farming environments, displacement, insufficient food supply, and erosion of mutual trust, explaining 46.9% of the variance across 21 components. The probit regression model identified farm size, gender, family size, farming experience, educational level, extension contacts, farm fencing, use of guards, kraal proximity, grazing route location, and farm distance as significant factors influencing the probability of herdsmen incursions into farmland. These findings emphasize the need for targeted conflict resolution strategies and policies to mitigate the adverse effects of herdsmen-farmer conflicts on agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods in the area.

چکیده انگلیسی:

The study investigates the causes and effects of herdsmen-farmer conflicts in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Primary data were gathered through structured questionnaires, interviews, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). A multistage sampling method randomly selected 210 arable crop farmers and 70 herdsmen. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and probit regression. Findings indicate that the primary perceived causes of conflict among farmers included crop destruction (mean = 3.94), uncontrolled grazing (3.85), indiscriminate bush burning (3.79), and contamination of streams by cattle (3.79). Conversely, herdsmen identified encroachment of grazing routes (3.72), language barriers and cultural differences (3.67), crop destruction (3.65), and inadequate grazing reserves (3.64) as major causes. PCA analysis of the perceived effects on arable crop farmers revealed that the conflicts caused decreased farm output, destruction of crops, unsafe farming environments, displacement, insufficient food supply, and erosion of mutual trust, explaining 46.9% of the variance across 21 components. The probit regression model identified farm size, gender, family size, farming experience, educational level, extension contacts, farm fencing, use of guards, kraal proximity, grazing route location, and farm distance as significant factors influencing the probability of herdsmen incursions into farmland. These findings emphasize the need for targeted conflict resolution strategies and policies to mitigate the adverse effects of herdsmen-farmer conflicts on agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods in the area.

منابع و مأخذ:

Abanyam, N. L. (2019). The Effects of Cattle Herders and Crop Farmers Conflicts on Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria. International Journal of Social Sciences and Conflict Management,4(1), 90–103.
Adelakun, O. E., Adurogbanga, B., & Akinbile, L. A. (2015). Socioeconomic effects of farmer-pastoralist conflict on agricultural extension service delivery in Oyo State, Nigeria. Journal of agricultural extension, 19(2), 59-70.
Adisa, R. S. (2012). Land use conflict between farmers and herdsmen–Implications for agricultural and rural development in Nigeria (pp. 99-118). IntechOpen.
Ado, M. D., Gofwan, J. D., & Ishaya, J. (2021). Farmers-herdsmen conflicts in Nigeria: Implications for peace and national security. African Scholar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 23(6), 163-174.
Agresti, A. (1992). Modelling patterns of agreement and disagreement. Statistical methods in medical research, 1(2), 201-218.
Ajibefun, M. B. (2017). Social and Economic Effects of the Menace of Fulani Herdsmen Crises in Nigeria. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 8(2), 133–139. https://doi.org/10.2478/jesr-2018-0024
Akanwa, A. O., Banerjee, A., Jhariya, M. K., Muoghalu, L. N., Okonkwo, A. U., Ikegbunam, F. I., ... & Madukasi, E. I. (2023). Climate‐Induced Conflicts Between Rural Farmers and Cattle Herders: Implications on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Nigeria. Ecorestoration for Sustainability, 373-416.
Akinrinde, O. O., Osuwa, A. A., & Olawoyin, K. W. (2021). Farmers-herders conflict and Nigeria’s quest for food security: The imperative need for information communications technology. Journal of Digital Food, Energy & Water Systems, 2(2), 35 – 54. https://doi.org/10.36615/digitalfoodenergywatersystems.v2i2.731
Aliyu, M. K., Ikedinma, H. A., & Akinwande, A. E. (2018). Assessment of the effect of farmers-herdsmen conflicts on national integration in Nigeria. International journal of humanities and social science, 8(10), 118-128.
Ashagidigbi, W. M. (2017). Economic Burden of Conflicts on Farmers’ Output in South-west Nigeria. Science Letters, 5(3), 217-224.
Awotokun, K., Nwozor, A., & Olanrewaju, J. (2020). Conflicts and the retrogression of sustainable development: the political economy of herders-farmers’ conflicts in Nigeria. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 8(1), 624-633.
Ayodeji, G. I. (2022). Grazing policies implementation gaps and the phenomenon of pastoralists-farmers conflict in Nigeria. Conflicts and climate change, Babe-Bolyai University & University of Port-Harcourt, 77-94.
Babagana, M., Madaki, M. J., Ibrahim, G. Y., Adamu, A. A., & Gujja, A. A. (2019). Impacts of Fulani herdsmen-farmers’ conflicts on food production in Gujba and Tarmuwa Local Government Areas of Yobe State, Nigeria’. International Journal of Contemporary Research and Review, 10(02), 20316-20331.
Chiaka, J. C., Zhen, L., Yunfeng, H., Xiao, Y., Muhirwa, F., & Lang, T. (2022). Smallholder farmers contribution to food production in Nigeria. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, 916678.
Deressa, T. T., Hassan, R. M., Ringler, C., Alemu, T., & Yesuf, M. (2009). Determinants of farmers’ choice of adaptation methods to climate change in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia. Global environmental change, 19(2), 248-255.
Eneji, A. G., & Agri, E. M. (2020). Insecurity, conflict and socioeconomic development in Nigeria. Social Science Journal, 8, 1-19.
Enwelu, I. A., Dimelu, M. U., & Asadu, A. N. (2015). Farmer-cattle herder conflict: Possible mitigation and mediation strategies in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Rural Sociology, 16(2), 84-92.
George, J., & Adelaja, A. (2022). Armed conflicts, forced displacement and food security in host communities. World Development, 158, 105991.
Haro, G. O., Doyo, G. J., & McPeak, J. G. (2005). Linkages between community, environmental, and conflict management: Experiences from Northern Kenya. World development, 33(2), 285-299.
Ibitoye, O., & Oguntade, E. A. (2015). Income distribution among arable crop farmers in Nigeria: evidence from Ekiti state, Nigeria. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 6(9), 143 – 149.
Ikhuoso, O. A., Adegbeye, M. J., Elghandour, M. M. Y., Mellado, M., Al-Dobaib, S. N., & Salem, A. Z. M. (2020). Climate change and agriculture: The competition for limited resources amidst crop farmers-livestock herding conflict in Nigeria-A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 272, 123104.
Ilori, O. M. (2021). Fulani Pastoralists and Security Crisis In Nigeria: A Sociological Perspective. Fuoye Journal of Criminology and Security Studies, 1(1).
Innocent, E. O., Christian, U., & Onuigbo, R. A. (2017). Economic Effects of Fulani Herdsmen-Farmers Clashes in Nigeria. specialty journal of politics and law, 2(1-2017), 1-11.
Iwuagwu, E. K. (2022). Nigeria’s Ethno-Religious Crises and Its Socio-Political and Economic Underdevelopment. Cogito-Multidisciplinary Research Journal, (1), 115-134.
Jimoh, S. O., Ishiaku, Y. M., Burnett, T., Amisu, A. A., & Adebayo, R. A. (2021). Potentials of leys or pasture-based forage production in Nigeria. African Journal of Range & Forage Science, 38(3), 191-205.
Johnson, R. A., & Wichern, D. W. (2002). Applied multivariate statistical analysis.
Makhura, M. T., Goode, M. F., & Coetzee, G. K. (1997). Indexing participation in the market economy through factor analysis: implications for food security/indeksering van deelname aan die markekonomie deur faktoranalise: implikasies vir voedselsekuriteit. Agrekon, 36(4), 473-483.
Mbah, E. N., Jiriko, R. K., & Amah, N. E. (2020). Socio-economic impacts of conflicts between farmers and cattle herdsmen in rural households of Benue State, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability, 13, 1 – 12.
Mosoh, D. A., Prakash, O., Khandel, A. K., & Vendrame, W. A. (2024). Preserving earth’s flora in the 21st century: climate, biodiversity, and global change factors since the mid-1940s. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 5, 1383370.
Nawaz, T., Fahad, S., Saud, S., Hassan, S., & Gu, L. (2024). Cyanobacterial Solutions for Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Global Food Security. In Environment, Climate, Plant and Vegetation Growth (pp. 1-39). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
Nnamani, K. E., Ononogbu, D. C., Okafor, N. I., Ohabuenyi, J., & Anichebe, O. J. (2024). Open grazing prohibition law, political economy of centralized law enforcement mechanism, and nomadic pastoralist-sedentary farmer relations in Nigeria. Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1), 2414869.
Obasi, F. C., & Agu, S. E. (2000). Economics of small scale rice farmers under different production systems in south eastern Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture, Business and Rural Development, 1(2), 2-8.
Obi, E. N. (2023). Effects of Farmers-Herders Conflicts on Food Security in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. NIU Journal of Social Sciences, 9(3), 159-168.
Ogbonna, M., & Ume-Ezeoke, E. E. (2023). An Assessment of Nigeria’s Struggle with Poverty and Insecurity: A 23 Year Review, 1999-2022.
Ogebe, F. O., Abah, D., & Ligom, L. S. (2019). Land use conflict between farmers and herdsmen in Gwer West Local Government area of Benue state, Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, 12(1), 23-31.
Ogieva, E. (2003). Comprehensive agricultural science. Lagos: A. Johnson publishers Ltd.
Ogo-Oluwa, S. O. (2017). Anti-grazing policy and conflict resolution between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Ekiti State. Asian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences, 4(1), 1-13.
Ogunwande, I., & Akinrinola, O. O. (2017). Effect of nomadic activities on the productivity of arable crop farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Tropical Agriculture, 22(2), 79-87.
Okeke, N. C., & Nnamani, N. C. (2023). Migrant Fulani herdsmen and native farmers conflict in Nigeria: Implications for food security and livelihood. Zik Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 6(1), 90 – 111. Retrieved from https://journals.aphriapub.com/index.php/ZJMR/article/view/2069.
Okoli, A.C., & Atelhe, G.A. (2014). Nomads against natives: A political ecology of herder/farmer conflicts in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 4(2), 76-88.
Okoli, F. C., & Addo, H. A. (2018). Implication of Fulani herders/Benue farmers crises on food security of Benue State of Nigeria. International Journal of Academic Multidisciplinary Research (IJAMR), 2(10), 16-23.
Okorie, D. I., & Lin, B. (2022). Emissions in agricultural-based developing economies: A case of Nigeria. Journal of Cleaner Production, 337, 130570.
Okoro, J. P. (2018, June). Herdsmen–farmers’ conflict: Implication on national development (Nigeria in perspective). In 1st International Conference of Social Sciences (ICOSS’2018). Theme:“Imaged or Imagined: Africa and the Contemporary World–Issues in Security, Governance and Sustainable Development” National Open University of Nigeria. 25th–27th June.
Olugbenga, E. O. (2017). Peace by pieces: The politics of herdsmen’s attacks, grazing policy and the Ekiti State Grazing Regulation Law, 2016. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 4(5), 123 – 135.
Olutumise, A. I. (2023). Impact of credit on the climate adaptation utilization among food crop farmers in Southwest, Nigeria: application of endogenous treatment Poisson regression model. Agricultural and Food Economics, 11(1), 7.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-023-00251-0
Omotola, S., & Hassan, I. (2015). Herders’ and farmers’ associations and social conflicts in Northern Nigeria. Rural Banditry and Conflicts. Available at https://www.dirzon.com/file/telegram/the%20nigerian%20bahaushe/Rural%20Banditry%20in%20Northern%20Nigeria.pdf#page=220
Oni, F. O. (2015). Factors influencing farmers’ willingness to engage in agroforestry practice in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Unpublished Masters’ Thesis), University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Otitoju, M. A., & Enete, A. A. (2016). Climate change adaptation: Uncovering constraints to the use of adaptation strategies among food crop farmers in South-west, Nigeria using principal component analysis (PCA). Cogent Food & Agriculture, 2(1), 1178692.
Salau, S. A. (2013). Determinants of technical inefficiency among maize-based farming households in Niger state. Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management, 6(5), 543-550.
Shemyakina, O. (2022). War, conflict, and food insecurity. Annual Review of Resource Economics, 14(1), 313-332.
Udeh, F. U. (2021). Beef and dairy cattle production. Agricultural Technology for Colleges, 316.
Udosen, N. M. (2021). Farmers-herders crisis and food security in Nigeria: causes and implications. European Journal of Political Science Studies, 5(1), 24 – 44. http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejpss.v5i1.1165
Ukamaka, D. M., Danjuma, S. E., Mbolle, C. J., Achonam, E. I., & Mbadiwe, I. E. (2017). Livelihood issues in herdsmen-farmers conflict among farming communities in Kogi State, Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 12(24), 2105-2115.
Usman, I. S., Bakari, U. M., & Abdullahi, A. (2017). Crop farmers and herders conflicts in Girei Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria: causes, repercussions and resolutions. Scientific Papers Series Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development, 17(1), 467–472.
Yeboua, K., Cilliers, J., & Le Roux, A. (2022). Nigeria in 2050: Major player in the global economy or poverty capital?. ISS West Africa Report, 2022(37), 1-64.