Farmers-Herdsmen Conflict in Africa: The Case of Nigeria

Abstract

General population growth and an increase in the number of farmers, environmental degradation, disruption of conditions for resolving land and water disputes, and the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Sahel and West Africa have exacerbated the struggle for the survival and security of economic livelihoods, and in particular negatively affected relationships between shepherds and farmers in several communities in Africa. This kind of conflict between farmers and herdsmen mainly applies to Nigeria, but is also present in other African countries, especially in Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Senegal, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire. Such conflicts are not triggered by a single reason, but are driven by a set of multi-causal factors, such as scarce resources in the face of greater need, reprisal attacks, land and climate change, etc. Obviously, in case of Nigeria this kind of conflicts have a disintegrative impact, as they lead to the inimical effects to the country’s unity. The need for fostering value reorientation and restoring earlier interactive ties between herdsmen and farmers seems vital today, so that Nigerians can learn to appreciate the values that unite them more than those that separate the society.

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

“…In this case,the farm size with coefficient (β1 =3.805) implies that a reduction in the size of the farm by one hectare would cause a decrease in the output level by 3.805. The struggle between the farmers and herders on the limited available farmlands has been observed also by various researchers as a major factor responsible for the incessant farmers-herders conflicts (Oghuvbu & Oghuvbu, 2020;Hyginus, 2022 andAjibo et al, 2018). Furthermore, the analysis identified other factors that affect the output of rice in the area, including the the amount of seeds used (β2 =0.164) and pesticides (β6 =1.387).…”

“…Ajibo et al (2018) also reported that the porous nature of Nigerian borders, over-concentration of infrastructure in urban centers, ineffective security response, and lack of political will to address the issue are the factors that aid herders-farmers conflicts in Nigeria. Moreover, Oghuvbu and Oghuvbu (2020) noted that conflicts between farmers and herders in most African countries have been worsened by factors such as rapid population growth, an increase in people engaging in farming as a means of livelihood, environmental degradation, indiscriminate grazing by herders, and the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons. Beetseh (2018) reported that deforestation and uncontrolled pastoralism contribute to the ongoing conflict between farmers and herders.…”

Impact Of Herders And Crop Farmers Conflicts On Rural Livelihoods In selected Rural Communities In Ogun State, Nigeria

“…Herders move from the northern part southward to the middle belt and coastal zones in Nigeria, in search of greener pasture and fresh water for their cattle. This is due to longer rainy season and ability of the soil to retain moisture for long in the middle belt and southern parts of Nigeria (Ofuoku and Isife 2010;Oli, Ibekwe and Nwankwo, 2018;Oghuvbu and Oghuvbu, 2020).…”

Challenges of degradation in the Tropical Environment: Causes, Footprints and Remedies

“…Several cases of killing, maiming, animal rustling, crop farm destruction by herders' animals among other have been reported as a result of such clashes. Though, climate change scenario has its own stake in the causes of inadequate fodder for animals, the technological development and medical research which brought about the various e development of veterinary drugs and vaccines to cure sleeping sickness in cattle contributes to the continuous depletion of forest resources in feeding animals (Zoomers and Noorloos, 2013;Oghuvbu and Oghuvbu, 2020;Lezuya, 2021). This development has enhanced the sustaining domestication of the cattle in the southern parts of Nigeria which was formerly unconducive for the animals due to the presence of tsetse flies that inflict sleeping sickness on the cattle.…”