An Empirical Assessment of the Impacts of Farmers-Herders Conflict on Food Crop Production in the North-Eastern Region of Nigeria

Abstract

The persistent conflicts between farmers and herders have had serious effects on food crop production in sub-Saharan African countries, particularly Nigeria. Therefore, this research aims to assess the impacts of the farmers-herders conflict on food crop production in the North-Eastern region of Nigeria. The results revealed that the majority of the farmers in the area were males 68%; married 51% and within the active age range of below 50 years 86.8%. Similarly, 96.2% had secondary or tertiary education, whereas 3.8% had either primary education or no formal education. Approximately 86% of the farmers were cultivating small plots of farmland, between 1 to 5 hectares. All of this data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression models. Therefore, it is recommended to encourage modern farming practices that utilize improved technologies. By favouring small areas of land with high productivity, we can reduce competition on farmland. Furthermore, the establishment of efficient commercial cattle ranches should be considered, along with providing an enabling environment for peaceful coexistence in the community.