Farmer-herder Conflicts Research Articles

Water conflicts under climate change: Research gaps and priorities.

Climate change is known to worsen conflicts, but its combination with other factors affecting water-related conflicts remains less explored. Using a scoping review, this study examined research in the climate-water-conflict nexus. Using semi-automatic text mining approaches, key research gaps and differences in conflict factors and themes across different regions and conflict types were analyzed. Studies focused on Asia and Africa, with few exploring other regions. Governance and livelihoods emerged as significant factors in water-related conflict responses worldwide, with differences across regions. For instance, farmer-herder conflicts were common in Africa, while agriculture was more related to governance and water management in Asia. Research priorities forward should diversify the range of water-related conflict subjects and regions and give special focus to regions vulnerable to hydroclimatic change. More focus on cooperation and non-violent conflicts is also vital for understanding and being able to project and mitigate future water-related conflict responses to climate change.

Heat and Hate: Climate Security and Farmer-Herder Conflicts in Africa

Abstract We investigate the impact of climate shocks on farmer-herder violence, using geolocalized data on conflict events for Africa, 1997-2014. We find that a one degree temperature increase yields a 54% increase in conflict probability in mixed areas populated by both farmers and herders (versus 17% in non-mixed areas). Quantifying the impact of projected climate change in 2040, we find that -when factoring in the magnifying effect of mixed settlements- annual conflicts are predicted to rise by a third. Drawing on a fine-grained analysis of groups' mobility patterns, we show that resource competition is a major driver of farmer-herder violence.

Friends and Foes in the Battle Field: Unraveling the History of Farmer-Herder Conflicts in Jigawa State, 1991-2015

This paper examines the nuanced historical trajectories, causes, and effects of farmer-herder conflicts in Jigawa State. It also examines the role of the state government and other bodies in resolving and managing these conflicts, especially from 1991 to 2015. Arguably, the major factors responsible for these conflicts in Jigawa State include effects of the climate change, overpopulation of herders, indiscriminate destruction of unharvested crops by herders, encroachment on cattle routes, and denial of access to water points by farmers. Other contributory factors include occasional assaults on Fulani women, growth of agro-pastoralism, expansion of farming into pastures due to population explosion and technological advancements, cattle rustling, burning of rangelands, overgrazing of fallow lands, floods, and aggressive behavior from competing parties. The conflicts engendered food shortages and increased food prices, loss of lives, destruction of property, social dislocation, and estrangement. In response, the Jigawa State government took measures and implemented policies intending to curtail the phenomenon. This paper unravels the conflict, its consequences, and steps taken by the government to manage it using historical methods and sources such as published and unpublished materials, interviews, and observations.

Post Farmer-herder Conflict Management and Relief Strategies of Farmers in Nigeria

Purpose: This study shed light on the self-relief strategy employed by farmers after their experience in farmer-herder conflict.Research Method: The survey was carried out among 150 farm households headed in four farming communities. Frequency and logistic regression statistics were employed to analyze data.Findings: Findings showed that farmer-herder conflict resulted in the destruction of farm crops and insufficient food for household consumption among affected rural households. Affected rural households decided to adopt coping strategies that reduce their vulnerability by tightening farm security, preventing future huge farm loss by sowing less, and completely avoiding of risk of conflict effects with no intention to continue crop farming by borrowing money and shifting to off-farm jobs. Education/literacy of the people and causes of conflict were found to be the behavioral control factors of the farmers.Practical Implication: The study provided recommendations for rural development advisors and policymakers to inform post-conflict management and relief strategies for effective coping and adaptation responses to farmer-herders conflict victims in Africa and other developing countries experiencing similar nature of conflict.Originality/ Value: The study is novel for reporting, for the first time, the post-farmer-herder conflict behavior of farmers in Nigeria

You’re not welcome! Violence and support for an open grazing ban policy in Kaduna, Nigeria

This study examines the effect of victimization and religious affiliation on support for a policy banning the open grazing of livestock in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna. This policy, which aims to reduce the incidence of conflicts between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers, has been implemented to varying degrees in some states across Nigeria. Kaduna is a suitable case study for investigating these relationships because, despite having the third-highest incidence of farmer–herder conflicts out of Nigeria’s 36 states, the state government has not implemented an open grazing ban policy there. The regression results show that victimization by herders increases the likelihood of supporting the policy. On average, Muslims are more supportive of the policy than Christians. The higher support among Muslims is quite surprising because most of the respondents who have been victimized by herders are Christians. Muslims might be more supportive of an open grazing ban policy due to a contagion effect: the common religion of Islam that they share with nomadic herders could lead to the attribution of blame for farmer–herder conflicts to Muslims, making them more eager to see an end to the conflict. This eagerness might be what leads to increased support for an open grazing ban policy. JEL Codes: D74, N57, Z12

Out of Frame: Invisibilisation of Non-Human Nature in Media Framing of a Land Conflict Transformation Policy in Nigeria

ABSTRACT Public policy response to land-use conflict often exacerbates contestation rather than fostering consensus, further polarising stakeholders and darkening peacebuilding prospects. The Nigerian government conceived the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) to tackle the protracted land-use conflict between nomadic pastoralists and sedentary crop farmers. This study examined the framing of the policy in three select Nigerian newspapers, the Daily Sun, the Daily Trust, and Punch, published between January 2018 and June 2021. The findings revealed the preponderance of five anthropocentric frames. The environmental frame was absent from the newspaper framing of NLTP, reflecting a blind spot in the representation of a farmer–herder conflict rooted in the asymmetric visions of human–nature relations of the conflict parties. The voices of environmental actors and the scientific community did not feature in the discourse on the Plan. Their detachment from the framing contest contributed to the information blackout on the policy’s relationship with the natural environment. Nature is a stakeholder in land-use conflict, a reality that may be obscured, misrepresented, or underrepresented by human-centred news framing. Media framing of land-use conflict policy should aim at the nuanced reflection of the conflict universe and the embeddedness of biodiversity – the voiceless, non-aligned, and indispensable actants in ecological conflict.

Articulatory flow of Fulanisation discourse of the farmer-herder conflicts in the Benue Valley region, Nigeria

In Nigeria, farmer-herder conflicts have been examined through environmental security and political ecology lenses. More recently, discourse approaches have emerged, but they largely need to incorporate ethnographic accounts. While studies have focused on different facets of religious conflicts in northern Nigeria, how the discourse surrounding Muslim-non-Muslim conflicts relates to the farmer-herder conflict in the region needs further scrutiny. Against this background, this paper examines how the Islamisation narrative surrounding a religious conflict (Wukari Religious Crisis) intersects with the discourse of farmer-herder conflicts leading to the emergence of Fulanisation discourse in the Benue Valley region of Nigeria. It analysed ethnographic data and documents to explore this emergence of Fulanisation discourse, through what I call articulatory flow from a critical geopolitical perspective. Through the concept of articulatory flow – the flow of articulations from one discursive field to another linked through desires – the paper shows how the Islamisation discourse of the Wukari Religious Crisis flowed into the articulations of the farmer-herder conflict, producing a Fulanisation discourse because of specific desires. This finding contributes to the ongoing discussions on using assemblage frameworks to rework post-structuralist theory by arguing that discourses have spatial agency via assemblages and can crisscross fields of discursivity.

The water problem in the Western Sahel: Water scarcity, government policies and conflicts between herders and farmers

ABSTRACT Throughout the period of post-colonial development of the countries of the Western Sahel, these polities have been facing a multitude of challenges in socioeconomic, environmental and political spheres, among which the rising scarcity of water and the corresponding degradation of agricultural lands and pastures has been gaining in prominence. The paper aims to analyse the causes and implications of a relatively new phenomenon for this region – the escalation of armed hostilities between herders and farmers, who until a few decades ago coexisted peacefully, over access to arable lands, pastures and sources of water. In particular, the authors focus on the impact of the ‘water problem’, which lies at the nexus of water scarcity and misguided and discriminatory government policies, on the socio-political situation in the Western Sahel, and find that it has become a key factor of regional destabilisation, fuelling not only farmer–herder conflicts, but also Islamist insurgencies.

Stakeholders’ Evaluation of a Farmer-Herder Conflict Research Project in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

There has been growing interest in the evaluation of research projects in Africa because of the quantum of funding devoted to research by governmental and non-governmental organizations. One area that has received a lot of research funding is farmer-herder conflicts due to its high impact on peace, security and development on the continent. This paper evaluates a Danida-funded research project in the Ashanti Region of Ghana dubbed “Access-Authority Nexus in Farmer-Herder Conflicts (AAN Project)”. Primary data was collected from 46 project stakeholders during a project review meeting. Each stakeholder responded to a questionnaire distributed to them and later explained for them to have a common understanding of it before providing responses. The OECD DAC Network on Project Development Assessment Framework was adapted to evaluate the project success. Stakeholders’ perceived project success was evaluated using Perception Index while project success criteria were assessed using correlation analysis. The results show that stakeholders perceived the AAN project to be effective in achieving its objectives of investigating the formation and erosion of access associated with the conflicts, capacity building and information dissemination to stakeholders. They also perceived it to be relevant to farmer-herder peaceful co-existence, and coherent with other existing interventions in the conflict area. The results further show that stakeholders recognized the project to have impacted positively on the number of conflict cases and their effects on livelihoods and state building Overall, they rated the project’s achievements as sustainable. The implication of the findings is that research is still necessary for the effective management of the farmer-herder conflicts despite the numerous research work already done on it.

Violent farmer–herder conflicts in West Africa: landscape–livelihood interactions and the political ecology of customary dispute resolution

ABSTRACT This paper addresses the relationship among customary authorities, local disputes, and conflict escalation in Benin, West Africa, where violent insurgency is emerging. It uses a mixed-methods approach to investigate how changes in land use and livelihoods affect the capacity of customary authorities to resolve farmer–herder disputes as a prerequisite for violence prevention. It concludes that landscape changes and altered livestock migration patterns have weakened dispute resolution mechanisms to the point where they no longer function effectively. The result is a higher risk of escalation in areas where regional insecurity is linked to local conflicts between farmers and livestock herders.

The Role Of Traditional Rulers In Curbing Farmer Herder Conflict In Ukum Local Government Area Of Benue State, 2011-2023

This study interrogates the role of traditional rulers in the management of farmer herder conflict in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state, 2011-2023 with the aim of unfolding the persistent incursion on the farming communities of Ukum LGA by the herders and the task of traditional rulers in managing it. Using Eco violence theory the study explained the inextricable link between the environment and violent conflicts between the herders and farmers n Ukum LGA. The study used the descriptive survey design. Qualitative method of data collection was adopted and the instruments for data collection were key informant interview and focus group discussion. The secondary data were gathered from text books, and journals. The method of data analysis was the explorative as the data were descriptions, accounts and experiences or feelings of the respondents. The study found that the nature of farmer herder crisis is the conflict between the economic activities of human beings for survival and the effect of the survival on the ecosystem.. the effect is the intolerable experience the indigenes are passing through as the idle youths have turned the conflict as a means of livelihood. Though the traditional rulers have been trying to curb the situation, there are challenges that are rooted in politics. The study concludes that government must be careful in selecting the traditional rulers and give them a free hand in managing the affairs of their communities. The study recommends majorly that Government must embrace the modern system of livestock farming to reduce competition over scarce environmental resources

Cattle violence: the politics and fantasies of cattle ranching in Ghana

ABSTRACT Emerging agro-pastoral policy initiatives aim to mediate farmer–herder conflicts by implementing a ranching policy. The government of Ghana constructed a 272 ha ranch at Wawase. Initially, there was little local opposition, allowing the ranch to be established and to experience a large growth in cattle population. However, the ranch began to experience difficulties. This paper explores why the government’s ranching intervention has not worked, by focusing on how it is being implemented in practice, and the nature of the conflict it generates. The article shows how the development of the ranch manifested as part of the political regime of the New Patriotic Party; the process enhanced the party’s political legitimacy but did not provide pastoralists with enough forage and security. Practices on the ranch have created a new layer of conflicts between cattle owners and ranch management. The article illuminates the practical issues surrounding the establishment of cattle ranches.

A New Twist to an Age-Long Friendship: The Role of Local Defence Groups in the Conflict Between Farmers and Herders

The relationship between farmers and herders, once characterised by symbiosis and mutual dependence, has undergone a profound transformation in many regions worldwide, marked by escalating tensions and violent conflicts over resources. This paper examines a new twist to the long-standing relationship, focusing on the emerging phenomenon of local defence groups and their impact on the dynamics of conflict between farmers and herders. Drawing on a multidisciplinary approach, this study explores the origins, motivations, organisational structures, and strategies of local defence groups operating within the context of farmer-herder conflicts using a qualitative approach that relies on secondary data from scholarly journals and newspaper editorials. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The study established that historical grievances, socioeconomic factors, and environmental pressures fuel the emergence of these groups, often as a response to perceived failures of formal security mechanisms. This research assesses the implications of local defence groups for conflict escalation, peacebuilding efforts, and governance dynamics. While these groups may offer immediate security to communities vulnerable to violence and theft, their actions can exacerbate tensions, perpetuate cycles of revenge, and undermine prospects for long-term peace and stability. Additionally, their interactions with formal authorities, including the police and military, raise questions about state legitimacy, rule of law, and human rights protections. Through a nuanced analysis of case studies from diverse regions affected by farmer-herder conflicts, this study sheds light on the complexities of local defence dynamics. It offers insights for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars alike. It underscores the importance of holistic approaches that address underlying drivers of conflict, promote dialogue and reconciliation, and strengthen governance structures to foster sustainable peace and coexistence between farmers and herders in the face of evolving challenges.

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES THROUGH INTERFAITH DIALOGUE FOR RESOLVING FARMERS-HERDERS DISPUTES IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA’S SELECTED COMMUNITIES

This study explores the farmer-herder conflict in Southwest Nigeria and the potential of interfaith dialogue as a novel approach to achieving sustainable peace. The paper argues that traditional methods of conflict resolution have proven inadequate and highlights the transformative potential of dialogue in fostering empathy, understanding, and collaboration between these often-antagonistic groups. Drawing on a multi-pronged methodological approach that combines secondary source analysis with primary data collected through interviews with key stakeholders, the research delves into the root causes of the conflict, including population growth, resource scarcity, and historical grievances. The paper emphasizes the devastating consequences of these clashes, including internal displacement, livelihood destruction, and loss of life. Through the lens of Leonard Swidler's Decalogue of Dialogue, the study outlines a framework for interfaith dialogue initiatives. This framework emphasizes open communication, mutual respect, a willingness to learn from each other, and a commitment to finding common ground. The research highlights the importance of addressing underlying grievances while also promoting innovative solutions such as sustainable cattle rearing practices and collaborative land-use policies. The study concludes that by implementing interfaith dialogue strategies alongside educational components, economic incentives for peaceful coexistence, and social interaction programs, stakeholders can cultivate a culture of peace and build a more prosperous future for all communities involved. This research contributes to the field of conflict resolution by advocating for a nuanced approach that acknowledges the religious dimensions of the farmer-herder conflict while emphasizing the importance of intergroup dialogue and collaboration. The emphasis on interfaith dialogue as a tool for peace-building offers a valuable addition to existing scholarship on conflict resolution in Southwest Nigeria. Limitations of the study include its focus on a specific region and the reliance on self-reported data from interviews. Future research should explore the long-term effectiveness of interfaith dialogue initiatives and investigate their applicability in diverse cultural contexts. By continuing to refine and expand the toolkit of interfaith dialogue, scholars and practitioners can make significant strides towards fostering peace and social cohesion in conflict-ridden regions.

Cattle logic and capital logic: the recalcitrance of transhumance in the establishment of private grazing lands in North West Nigeria

Livelihoods associated with transhumance cattle production are increasingly decimated and threatened by serious loss of human lives due to increasing competition for resources as driven by cattle logic and capital logic, thus the plan and drive for livestock transformation have been subjected to the recalcitrance of transhumance in Nigeria. This study examined cattle farmers’ willingness and attitude towards the establishment of private grazing lands in Sokoto State Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 457 cattle farmers from 10 Local Government Areas of Sokoto State, from which data were collected through a structured questionnaire and subjected to frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation, Probit regression, and Principal component analysis. The results revealed that cattle farmers have unfavorable attitudes and are unwilling to establish private grazing lands. The determinants of cattle farmers’ willingness and attitude to the establishment of grazing lands overlap and include age (t = 1.97; p < 0.05); marital status (t = -11.35; p < 0.05); educational level (t = -2.73; p < 0.05); credit amount (t = -44.56; p < 0.05); source of credit (t = -5.01; p < 0.05); herd composition (t = -2.20; p < 0.05); attitude (t = 8.82; p < 0.05) and constraints (t = 1.97; p < 0.05). The Principal Component Analysis extracted factors are Factor 1 (Resource utilization), Factor 2 (Environment concerns), Factor 3 (practice suitability), and Factor 4 (cattle productivity) and accounted for 21.59%, 6.93%, 6.20%, 5.35% of the variance respectively; with a cumulative 40.06% variance. These results affirm Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity with a value of X2 = 1991.43, p = 0.00, and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy of 0.835. It is recommended that a clear distinction of logic for curtailing transhumance which is responsible for farmer-herder conflicts be established and limitations of cattle movements defined within their immediate surroundings.

Banditry and the complicity of authorities in Zamfara State

Banditry is one of the major forms of insecurity in many states of the Northwest of Nigeria; it specifically poses significant threats to the wellbeing of the community and the economic stability in Zamfara State. The objective of this work is to examine the causes of banditry, analyze the impact on socio-economic, political and human security in Zamfara State and unravel the complicity of authorities in the banditry syndicate. Employing a qualitative approach, using primary sources, the study adopted the human security theory which emphasized the impact of banditry on the wellbeing and safety of people and communities in Zamfara State. The research findings include the identification of several causes of banditry which are farmer-herder conflicts, state and traditional rulers’ complicity, poverty. Banditry’s impact on the socio-economic activities has led to a significant decline in agricultural productivity, economic instability, loss of lives and property while in the political aspect it has resulted in a weak governance, political instability and threat to democratic process. Human security is severely impacted by banditry, with thousands of people displaced, human rights violation and disruption of basic services such as healthcare and education. The research recommended the adoption of integrated security strategies, economic support and development, community-based initiatives, government accountability and improvement, conflict resolution, human security and social services which should be critically used to mitigate the adverse effect of banditry and restore stability in Zamfara State.

How farmer-herder conflicts reconfigure the authority of politico-legal institutions in Ghana

ABSTRACT This article examines the consequences of farmer-herder conflict and the processes underlying how authority is sourced, maintained, and lost. It illustrates that farmer-herder conflicts are an important source of authority in rural Ghana. Yet, authority does not result from farmers hopping from one institution to another to authorize claims but rather through intense resistance from emerging social movements (farmers) against institutions. We show how the authority of institutions with rational-legal and traditional authority to grant property rights and mediate conflicts is being reconfigured by social movements. This is threatening state-building, raising serious concerns over governance and the direction of states.

Women's Lives and Voices in Conflict Situations Matter: A Study of Farmer-Herder Conflict in Agogo Traditional Area, Ghana.

This study examines Agogo Traditional Area (ATA) women's well-being during farmer-herder conflicts. It emphasizes women's voices, and survival mechanisms in conflict resolution. A gendered dimension to the farmer-herder conflict in the ATA is essential to a more lasting resolution in the afflicted area. Qualitative data from semistructured interviews and Focus Group Discussions with ATA women shows how the conflict affected them. Themes were created to clarify and frame the discussions. The themes included safety and security, destruction of crops, death and forced migration, and impact on infrastructure. Civil society organizations addressing violence should offer psychosocial help to women victims in conflict areas in Ghana.

“When We Believe in State Power, It Tends to Fail Us”: Insights Into the Management of Herder-Peasant Farmer Conflicts in Benue State, Nigeria

This paper examines management of herder-peasant farmer conflicts and internal security challenges in Benue state, Nigeria. It relied mainly on descriptive and cross-sectional survey designs. Four hundred and seven participants were collated and analyzed from 430 questionnaires distributed in 10 Local Government Areas with an age range of 20–79 years and mean age of 42.84 years. A structured questionnaire was adopted for measuring farmer-herder conflicts and analyzing the strategies deployed in tackling the conflict. The findings showed that certain laws and policies of the government significantly contributed to the onset and protraction of the herder-farmer conflict in Benue state, F (5, 406) = 186.51; p &lt; 0.05. Further findings show that the inherent contradictions in the different policies and laws enacted by the government created obstructions to land access and utilization by the warring parties (herders and farmers). Pursuant to this, the paper linked the obduracy of the conflict to government’s poor handling of land and land-based resources. To address the conflict, the article recommends that land management policies should be unbundled to limit the influence of federal and state governments in land distribution and control.

Empirical Evaluation of Farmer-Herders’ Conflict in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria

The conflict between crop farmers and cattle herders has become a persistent issue in many regions of Nigeria, including the Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State. This study evaluates the nature of such conflict in the state and how it is managed using a multistage sampling technique to select 120 arable crop farmers in the state. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires. The study findings show that poor communication, crop destruction, and cattle theft are the primary causes of conflict between the crop farmers and cattle herders in Kwara State. Of all these causes, 84.4% of the study participants ranked poor communication as the first major cause of conflict, 67.5% ranked crop destruction as the second major cause of conflict, and 53.1% ranked cattle theft as the third major cause of conflict. These conflicts result in detrimental effects, such as property damage and loss of life. This study reveals that negotiation (83.1%), mediation (3.2%), and sanctioning (3.3%) are the conflict management strategies employed in addressing conflicts among the farmers and herders in Kwara State. Despite the use of negotiation, mediation, and sanctioning as conflict management strategies, conflicts persist between arable crop farmers and cattle herders in the study location. This persistence shows there is a need for improved education and communication between stakeholders to address this issue. The study recommends educational programs and enhanced communication channels to foster peaceful coexistence. Overall, the findings underscore the complex dynamics of farmer-herder conflicts and the importance of sustainable conflict resolution approaches. Keywords: Farmer-herder conflict, conflict management, communication, sustainable coexistence.