Effects of Herders and Farmers Conflicts on Food Production: A Study of Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State Nigeria
Ojo, S. Stephen, PhD
Department of Social Development
Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia, Nigeria
Email: steve234_1@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Herders and farmers conflict exists in all the geopolitical zones of the country. The problem can easily be explained within the context of ecological factors and of migrations as well as the search for grazing field by the Fulani Herdsmen and consequently due to climate change. The increasing shortage in food production the state has remain a serious problem affecting Doma local government and Nasarawa state in general as farmers could not grow food crops again due to the fear of the herders destructive nature. The purpose of the study is to ascertain the effects of Herders/Famers conflict on food production in Nasarawa State. The research design used is descriptive survey; data were collected by the administration of questionnaire to the respondent in the sampled population (300) and were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Findings revealed that herders and farmers conflict has had far reaching consequences in terms, of dimension and loss of lives and properties and the strain it has had on food production. The study concludes that prevalence of herders and farmers crises has serious implication for the development of the community in the area of food production. The study therefore recommend among others that the local government should create a grazing field for cattles to avoid herders encroaching into cultivated farm land due to lack of grazing field and farmers should observe earmarked grazing land in the course of farming.
Keywords: effects, herders, farmers, conflict, food production
