ABSTRACT
Farmer-herders conflict is one of the most reoccurring conflicts in the country which has led to loss of lives, destruction of crop lands and rustlings of livestock. This study assessed, generally, the effect of farmer-herders conflict on cassava farming in Esan West Local Government Area, Edo state. The specific objectives were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, examine the factors responsible for conflicts between farmers and herders, examine the effect of the conflicts on respondents’ farming practices, and ascertain the perceived effective measures adopted by the respondents.
A two stage sampling technique was employed in this study. Data for this study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were obtained through the use of structured questionnaire administered through interview schedule to one hundred and twenty one (121) randomly selected respondents from the study area, although a hundred and twenty five was administered. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson product moment correlation.
Results from the descriptive statistic showed that majority (62.8%) of the respondents was male, and majority (80.2%) was married. The mean age, mean household size and mean average monthly income were 43 years, 7 members and N96,617.11 respectively. The result showed that only 10.7% of the respondents had no formal education while majority (89.3%) had undergone formal education. Furthermore, the mean number of years lived by the respondents in the area is 17 years and 48.8% of the respondents indicated that they have experienced farmer-herders conflicts in the area. The result further showed disagreement between herdsmen and community as the major cause of conflict with 64.5% of the respondents indicating so. Also, majority (94.2%) of the respondents identified hunger and food shortage as the major effect of the conflict. Total destruction of cassava plantations with mean of 2.84 ranked the most severe effect of the conflict while dialogue with mean of 3.59 ranked the most effective measure of resolving the conflict. The results also showed that majority (90.1%) of the respondents identified policing, arresting and prosecuting defaulters as the major solution towards conflict. Results of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation showed significant relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics of respondents and the perceived effect of conflicts between farmers and herders at either 1% or 5% level of probability. The study concluded that conflict in the study area have led to loss of lives and properties, destruction of crop lands, closure of markets, fear and other physical, social, economic and psychological effects. However, members of the community found a way to reduce the occurrence by suggesting lasting solutions to the conflict and implementing them effectively.
