ABSTRACT
This study examines the role of adult education in resolving conflict between herdsmen and farmers in host communities in Edo State, Nigeria. (A case study of Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, six (6) research questions were raised to guide the study. The study embraced a descriptive survey design.
The study consisted of a population of all the farmers and herdsmen resident Ovia North East Local Government Area. The researcher selected through random sampling from the population a sample size of 160 farmers and herdsmen from a pool of farmers and herdsmen. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire, which was administered to the members of the population. The validity of the instrument was determined through expert judgment approach using test re-test method to ratify the reliability of the instrument. The data collected were analysed using frequency count and simple percentage.
Based on the study, it was concluded that the economic effect of conflict between herdsmen and sedentary farmers in Ovia North East Local Government Area inEdoState.Thephenomenonofherder-farmerconflictinEdoStatetypifieswhatisknownas resource conflict in contemporary literature. This thrives in an atmosphere of ecologicalscarcity and competition, as well as livelihood crisis. The problem has been heightened bythe global trend of climate change, which has led to the shrinking of ecological space andresources,leadingtointense pressureon,and competitionfor, theavailable resources. Some possible causes of farmer-herder conflict were identified such as destruction ofcrops,competitionforland,and contaminationofstream,sexualharassmentofwomenbyherdsmen and youths of host communities as well, and strayed cattle into crop farms amongst others.
