Navigating Challenges: Herdsmen-Crop Farmers Conflict and its Effect on Yam Productivity in Benue State
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33084/neraca.v9i2.7213Keywords:
Herdsmen-Crop Farmers, Conflict, Agriculture Productivity, Farm HouseholdsAbstract
The conflict between herdsmen and crop farmers in Nigeria has significantly impacted the productivity of yam farmers in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. The study investigated this conflict's impact on yam farmers' productivity. Data was collected from a structured questionnaire administered to 400 households affected by the conflict. The study found that the conflict negatively impacts the productivity of yam farmers in the Logo Local Government Area. The study reveals that 67.3% of yam farmers in Benue State are male, with a mean age of 35. The majority are married, have an average household size of 11 people, and have a small-scale farm size. Their low education level may contribute to unabated conflict dynamics. The study reveals that herdsmen attacks significantly reduce the productivity of yam farmers in the study area, with a higher number of respondents producing more output before the attacks and a lower number after the attacks. The logit regression model shows that Fulani attacks, attacks by Fulani herdsmen, and technology led to significant deaths in households, reducing the labour force, destroying farmers' inputs, and instilling terror. In conclusion, the study reveals that herdsmen attacks have significantly reduced the productivity of yam farmers in the study area, affecting not only the labour force but also their inputs and livelihoods, highlighting the detrimental impact of conflict-related violence. It was recommended that the government should also provide easy access to finance for farmers affected by this conflict to recover their lost farm capital.
Downloads
References
Adebanwi, W. (2009). Terror, territoriality and the struggle for indigeneity and citizenship in Northern Nigeria. Citizenship Studies, 13(4), 349-363.
Amao, O., Adeagbo, T. A., Olojede, M. O., Ogunleye, B. T., & Ogundoyin, C. O. (2018). Effects of Fulani herdsmen conflict on productivity of arable crop farmers in Ibarapa areas of Oyo State. International Journal for Research in Social Science and Humanities, 4(7), 1-12.
Ameh, C. G. (2018). Herdsmen killings: Benue Government releases timeline of attacks. Retrieved from https://dailypost.ng/2018/02/06/herdsmen-killings-benue-govt-releases-timelineattacks/
Amnesty International. (2018). Harvest of death: Three years of bloody clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria. Amnesty International.
Apenda, I. T. (2016). Assessment of the impact of farmers-herders conflict on food security in Benue state, Nigeria. International Journal of Development Strategies in Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, 6(2), 187-200.
Awuna, J. M., Musa, A. U., & Onah, A. E. (2023). Effects of Gross Fixed Capital Formation and Selected International Trade Policy Instruments on Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria: An Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Model Approach. Nigerian Journal of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (NJAAT), 3(2).
Awuzie, E. I., Okechukwu, N. M., Kuma, M. P., Okafor, V. C., & Itodo, I. C. (2023). Communal Conflict and Socio-economic Development Process in Nigeria: Evidence from Ukum and Shitile Communities in Sankara Benue State. Communal Conflict and Socio-economic Development Process in Nigeria: Evidence from Ukum and Shitile Communities in Sankara Benue State., 125(1), 10-10.
Blench, R. (2001). Pastoralism in the new millennium. FAO animal production and health paper, 150, 11-34.
Blench, R. (2004). Natural resource conflicts in north-central Nigeria. London: Mandaras.
Blench, R. (2017). Pastoral conflict and supplying Nigeria with meat: how can the paradox be resolved. Cambridge. Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Tansian University.
Blench, R. (2019). A tropic cascade in Nigerian vegetation and its implications for herder-farmer conflict. Department of History, University of Jos Kay Williamson Educational Foundation
Blench, R., & Dendo, M. (2003). Position paper: the dimensions of ethnicity, language and culture in Nigeria. Cambridge: DFID.
Blench, R., & Dendo, M. (2003). The Transformation of Conflict Between Pastoralists and Cultivators in Nigeria. Cambridge Cb1 2al United Kingdom. The Journal Africa, Ed. M. Moritz.
Duru, P. (2021). 1,773 killed by armed herdsmen in Benue, LG chiefs, tribal leaders cry out. Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/11/1773-killed-by-armed-herdsmen-in-benuelg-chiefs-tribal-leaders-cry-out/ Elbadawi, E., & Sambanis, N. (2000). Why are there so many civil wars in Africa? Understanding and preventing violent conflict. Journal of African economies, 9(3), 244-269.
Ejim, A. M., & Gani, S. M. (2023). Assessment of factors responsible for farmers-herders conflict in Benue state north central, Nigeria¬. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 18(2), 764-772.
Folger, J. P., Poole, M. S., & Stutman, R. K. (2021). Working through conflict: Strategies for relationships, groups, and organizations. Routledge.
Gyong, J. (2007). The Structure of Communication in Peace and Conflict Resolution, Identity, Crisis and Development in Africa. Malhouse Press.
Haddad, L. J., Hawkes, C., Achadi, E., Ahuja, A., Ag Bendech, M., Bhatia, K., Bhutta, Z., Blossner, M., Borghi, E., Eriksen, K. & Flores-Ayala, R. (2015). Global Nutrition Report 2015: Actions and accountability to advance nutrition and sustainable development. International Food Policy Research Institute
Hanumanthappa, K. M. (2014). A Clarification of the Concept of Agricultural Productivity in Karnataka. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 3(7), 395-397.
Higazi, A. (2016). Farmer-pastoralist conflicts on the Jos Plateau, central Nigeria: security responses of local vigilantes and the Nigerian state. Conflict, Security & Development, 16(4), 365-385.
Ijirshar, V. U., Ker, G., & Terlumun, Y. C. (2015, August). Socio-Economic Effects of Farmers–Herdsmen Conflict on Farmers’ Output in Benue, Nigeria. In an International Academic Conference on Nigeria and the Emerging Challenges in the 21st Century: The Way Forward (pp. 25-28).
Kazeem, Y. (2018). A new wave of brazen attacks by herdsmen in Nigeria is sparking fears of genocide. Quartz Africa Online News.
Kwaghtser, P. A. (2019). Impact of the conflict between farmers and herdsmen on food production in the agro-ecological Zone-B of Benue State, Nigeria. Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 1(1), 56-64.
Last, M. (2007). Muslims and Christians in Nigeria: an economy of political panic. The Round Table, 96(392), 605-616.
Mbah, E. N., Jiriko, R. K., & Amah, N. E. (2020). Socio-economic impacts of conflicts between farmers and cattle herdsmen in rural households of Benue State, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability, 13.
Mechri, A., Lys, P., & Cachia, F. (2017). Productivity and efficiency measurement in agriculture: Literature review and gaps analysis. technical report series GO-19-2017.
Mellawen, Zannah, F., & Elhawwa, T. . (2024). Students’ and Teachers’ Perception on the Development of Local Wisdom Module to Increase Student Learning Outcome. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 10(2), 516–521. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v10i2.5063
Murjani, D., & Zannah, F. (2023). Identifikasi Kesulitan Peserta Didik Kelas V SDN 5 Palangkaraya Melalui Kegiatan Pembelajaran Secara Luring Di Masa Covid-19: Identification of Difficulties Of Class V Students in Palangkaraya 5 State Elementary School Through Online Learning Activities in the Covid-19. Pedagogik: Jurnal Pendidikan, 18(2), 164–169. https://doi.org/10.33084/pedagogik.v18i2.5482
Musa, S. D., Shabu, T., & Igbawua, M. I. (2016). Resource use conflict between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Guma local government area of Benue state, Nigeria. Journal of defence studies and resource management, 4(1), 1-6.
Mustapha, A. R., & Ehrhardt, D. (Eds.). (2018). Creed & grievance: Muslim-Christian relations & conflict resolution in northern Nigeria (Vol. 11). Western Africa.
Ochonu, M. E. (2014). Colonialism by Proxy: Hausa imperial agents and Middle Belt consciousness in Nigeria. Indiana University Press.
Porter, G., Lyon, F., Adamu, F., Obafemi, L., & Blench, R. (2005). Trade and market in conflict development and conflict resolution in Nigeria: scoping study report to the UK Department for International Development.
Sari, E., Bulkani, B., & Rahmaniati, R. (2023). The Effect of Using the STAD (Student Teams Achievement Division) Cooperative Model Assisted by Finger Puppets on Students’ Learning Motivation. International Journal of Universal Education, 1(2), 61–68. https://doi.org/10.33084/ijue.v1i2.6949
Tiwo, R. A. (2023). Pastoralists and farmers conflict in Benue state: Changes in climate in northern Nigeria as a contributing factor. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 17(3), 325-344.
Ukamaka, D. M., Danjuma, S. E., Mbolle, C. J., Achonam, E. I., & Mbadiwe, I. E. (2017). Livelihood issues in herdsmen-farmers conflict among farming communities in Kogi State, Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 12(24), 2105-2115.
Verter, N., & Becvarova, V. (2014). Yam production as pillar of food security in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. European Scientific Journal, 10(31).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Sylvanus Ekonesie Oriko, M Dankogi Ismaila, Clement Aliu Ogbaini
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
All rights reserved. This publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording.
