Development of a web-based geospatial intelligent decision support system for control of herders and farmers crisis in Benue State Nigeria

Abstract

The biggest challenge in Nigeria today is herder-farmer conflict particularly in Benue State Nigeria. This study developed a web-based geospatial decision support system for control and management of herders/farmers crisis in Benue State. Landsat 5 TM (1989), Landsat 7 ETM+ (2004) and Landsat 8 (2019) were pre-processed and classified. The study revealed that forested areas had depleted by -4.17% between 1989 and 2004 and -2.20% between 2004 and 2019. Farmland had an increase of 34.01% between 1989 and 2004 and 17.92% between 2004 and 2019 and grassland had -7.12% between 1989 and 2004 and -3.89% between 2004 and 2019. The study also revealed five conflict zones with Agatu in Very high conflict zone with 88 -230 clashes, the high conflict zone included Guma, Gwer West and Logo with 41 – 87 clashes, the moderate conflict zone include Gwer East, Ohimini Markudi and Okpokwu with 16 – 40 clashes, the low conflict zone include Otukpo with 3 – 15 clashes, the very low conflict zone include Apa, Ado, Obi, Oju, Kwande, Ukum, Katsina Ala, Gboko, Buruku, Tarka, Ushongo, Konshisha, Ogbadibo, and Vandeikya with 0 -2 clashes. The potential sites for grazing reserves were determined using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The results revealed a total area of 8361.46hectares (0.27%) of the total land mass as potential grazing reserves, covering 18 local government areas. A database of the potential areas for grazing reserves was implemented in QGIS software. The study recommended potential areas for establishment of grazing reserves in Benue State.