Abstract
Conflicts between crop farmers and herders are common in nearly every part of Nigeria. It is a formidable challenge to economic development, threat to food security and sustainable livelihood of the agrarian communities. The study assessed the causes and effects of herdsmen-farmers’ conflicts on livelihood of agrarian communities in Kogi State. A total of 135 randomly selected crop farmers was used. Data were collected by use of structured interview and focus group discussion, and analysed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The results showed that crop farmers were predominantly male (85.2%), married (85.9%) and with mean age of 51 years. They were small scale farmers with average farm size of 2.9 ha and were engaged in the production of yam (97.8%), cassava (92.6%), maize (92.6%) and other arable crops, mainly for income and household food supply. The farmers indicated that violation of laws/tradition, livelihood interference and cultural factors were the major causes of conflict between crop farmers and herdsmen. Consequently, the socio-economic life, production outcome and settlement of crop farmers are affected, cumulating to breakdown in livelihood assets of farmers. The study recommends that there should be strategic and regular orientation of resource users on the need for co-existence and adherence to regulations regarding use of resources. Multi-stakeholders’ efforts exploring grass root participation should be promoted by government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in policies and strategies for management of conflict. Farmers should be assisted with productive resources and training by extension services to reduce vulnerability and protracted conflict in the farming communities. Key words: Conflict, crop farmers, herders, livelihood, production, natural resource.
Highlights
Over time, many herding and farming communities in the same area have developed interdependent relationships through reciprocity, others by exchange and support (Moritz, 2010). Mwamfupe (2015), opines that farmerherders’ relationships are characterized by both conflict and complementarity and are two faces of the same coin
Conflict in agrarian communities largely revolves on livelihood issues
The results show that in addition to some structural factors, conflicts are associated with livelihood pressure and competition between crop farmers and herdsmen
Summary
Many herding and farming communities in the same area have developed interdependent relationships through reciprocity, others by exchange and support (Moritz, 2010). Mwamfupe (2015), opines that farmerherders’ relationships are characterized by both conflict and complementarity and are two faces of the same coin. Many herding and farming communities in the same area have developed interdependent relationships through reciprocity, others by exchange and support (Moritz, 2010). Mwamfupe (2015), opines that farmerherders’ relationships are characterized by both conflict and complementarity and are two faces of the same coin.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
