Exploring the Causes and Management of Pastoralists-Farmer Conflicts in Ghana

Abstract

Conflicts between pastoralists and farmers are not new to our farming communities in Ghana but in recent years the magnitudeof these conflicts have increased especially in the Agogo traditional area of the Ashanti region of Ghana. This paper exploresthe causes of the conflicts and conflict management strategies used. In order to achieve the said objective a qualitative andquantitative data collection techniques were employed to study some 90 farmers who were directly affected by the conflicts inthe study area. Data were collected using semi structured questionnaire administered through personal interviews. The datawere analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. The study found out that, the conflicts between farmers andFulani pastoralist in the study area was caused by five major factors which include; destruction of food crops by cattle and thekilling of innocent citizens of the area which has brought fear and panic among citizens. Since the 1990s till today, the Fulaniherdsmen have either shot and killed or butchered not less than 12 people in the study area. The conflicts were managed usingseveral conflict management strategies, however what proved very effective was coercion and adjudication.

Governing Interests of Fulani Herdsmen and Peasant Farmers in Natural Resources in the Asante Akim North District of Ghana

“…These causes are consistent with the findings of Poku (2014). According to the farmers, the herdsmen often overstep their boundaries in the quest to feed and water their cattle.…”

Conflict triggers between farming and pastoral communities in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

“…In previous studies, Ofuoku and Isife (2009) and Opoku (2014) found that one of the causes of the conflicts between the farmers and herders in Nigeria is cattle rustling. Skyrocketing prices for livestock over the past two decades have increased the profitability on vast stolen cattle syndicates across Nigeria and the Sahel (Kwaja and Ademola-Adelehin, 2017).…”

How Farming Communities Cope With Displacement Arising from Farmer-Herder Conflict in North Central Nigeria

“…In Nigeria, Opoku (2014) identified the causes of farmer-herder conflict as shooting of innocent citizens by herdsmen, destruction of food crops, raping of women on their farms, herdsmen causing bushfires, pollution of water bodies by herdsmen and cattle rustling. In a study conducted by Ofem and Inyang (2014) in Yakurr region of Rivers State, it was found that both farmers and herders agreed about the factors causing the conflict.…”