EFFECTS OF FARM LAND DISPUTES ON FOOD SECURITY IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Abstract This study examines the effects of farm land disputes on food security in Nasarawa State. Survey design is used given the population of the study that is relatively large. The population of the study comprises of all the adults within eighteen (18) years and above, male and female in Nasarawa State. A stratified sampling method is used to select one local government area from each of the three senatorial zones that made up the state. Furthermore, a judgmental sampling technique is used to select local government from each of these zones with the highest agricultural produce. Then, a convenient sampling method is used to select fifty (50) respondents from each of the three local government selected from each of the three senatorial zones in the state. Thus, these local governments are selected from each of these zones. Nasarawa South (Awe), Nasarawa North (Nasarawa Eggon), and Nasarawa West (Toto). This makes a total of one hundred and fifty (150) respondents selected for the study. Ordinary Least Squares Method of Regression (OLS) is used and finds out that, widow and late husband’s family dispute and land grabbing dispute are significantly negatively related to food security in Nasarawa State. However, insignificant negative effect of junior and senior family members’ dispute on food security is found. It is recommended among others that, Nasarawa State Government should pay attention in resolving farm land disputes in the state by partnering with traditional rulers. Keywords: Farm Land Disputes, Food Security, Nasarawa State, Nigeria