EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF CROP FARMERS/HERDSMEN CONFLICT AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA: A FOCUS ON NASARAWA SOUTH SENETORIAL ZONE
Yunana Yakubu Aku, Prof. Eugene T. Aliegba , Dr. Canice E. Erunke and Dr. Jacho David Sunday
Volume 1 Issue 1
Abstract
This study examines the effects of Farmers- Herdsmen conflict on agricultural production in Nasarawa State, Nigeria using the eco-violence theory. The study used both primary and secondary data collected from 287 respondents who include farmers, herders, traditional rulers and security agencies through structured questionnaire and interview. A Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted for the study while simple descriptive statistics was used and analyzed the data collected and spearman rank correlation was adopted in testing hypotheses. The study found out that the major causes of the conflict were the destruction of crops by cattle as (42.9%) of the respondents said. (41.5%) of the respondents says that reduction in output and income of farmers/nomads were the major effect of the conflict. The conclusions drew from the findings shows that farmers-herdsmen conflict had affected agricultural production negatively in Nasarawa State. The spearman rank correlation indicated that, null hypotheses one and two were rejected. It was recommended that intensive system of grazing, through ranching should be introduced so that cattle’s are restricted to a particular place and chances of future clashes foreclosed. The Nasarawa State government should partner with traditional rulers, and other relevant agencies and the civil society to build new methods for the monitoring and control of Fulani herdsmen movement across the State. Keys Words: Agricultural Production, Conflict, Farmers, Herdsmen
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