CAUSES, EFFECTS AND RESOLUTION OF FARMERS-NOMADIC CATTLE HERDERS CONFLICT IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was conducted in Delta state to investigate the farmers-nomadic herders conflict that is very common in many parts of Nigeria. Such conflict has caused a lot of losses to Nigeria, the State, Local Communities, and families. This study unveils the secrets behind such conflicts and gives ideas on the way to prevent and solve such in the future. Using simple random and positive sampling techniques, 80 farmers and 20 nomadic cattle herders were selected respectively from 8 randomly selected communities. Data were collected using structured interview schedule. The causes of such conflict were destruction of crops, contamination of streams by cattle, zero grazing of land, disregard for local traditional authorities, female harassment, harassment of nomads by host communities youths, indiscriminate bush burning, defecation of cattle on roads, cattle theft, and straying of cattle. The socio-economic effects of the conflicts result to reduction in crop yield and income of farmers/nomads displacement of farmers, loss of lives and properties and loss of products in the storage. T-test result showed differences in the responses of farmers and nomads in the respect to the causes of the conflicts (P<0.05). It was then suggested that mechanism of local development plans should be established to reduce such conflicts. Also The extent of damage and compensation be agreed upon by both parties at the community level with the extension agents as facilitators.