Effects of Farmers-Herders Conflicts on Food Security in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper examined farmers-herders’ conflict and its effects on food security in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State. The study adopts the Frustration-Aggression Theory which posits that aggression is an outcome of frustrating a person’s efforts towards a certain goal. Frustration caused by interference in goal-directed activity produces a ‘readiness’ for aggression which if ‘triggered’ can result in aggressive response. The data collected was through structured questionnaire and analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics. The results revealed that conflict has reduced the rate of food production which has led to loss of lives and property, displacement, poverty, and unemployment with its socio-economic consequences on sustainable development in Nigeria. Therefore, the study recommends that representatives of the host communities and the herdsmen should organize a public forum and part take in decision making process where issues affecting both parties are presented, and the procedure to restoring peace to most of the affected communities will be properly tackled. The process should involve all stakeholders (herdsmen and farmers) in the dispute resolution mechanism. The ranching method for cattle rearing should be properly and unanimously adopted at rearing location across the state with the herdsmen given the needed training for effective and efficient management of the ranching. Keywords: Farmers, Herders, Conflict, Food Security