ANALYSIS OF FARMERS AND PASTORALISTS’ CONFLICT NEXUS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was conducted to analyze the farmers and pastoralist’s conflict nexus in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A multi – stage sampling technique was used to select 130 respondents (104 farmers and 26 pastoralists) who were administered through interview schedules. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, and mean) and inferential statistics (chi square and correlation). Socio-economic characteristics indicated that majority of the respondents were male (farmers 78.9% and pastoralists 100%), which below half (42.3%) of the farmers cultivated 1-3 hectares and the majority (53.8%) of the pastoralists herds between 51-100 cattle, and mean farming experience of farmers was 23.2 years while mean herding experience of pastoralists was 25.6 years. Farmers agreed that almost all the factors listed were the causes of the farmers- pastoralists’ conflict while Pastoralists agreed that contamination of stream by their cattle (x̄ =3.85), overgrazing of fallow land/uncontrolled grazing (x̄ =3.88), and indiscriminate defecation by cattle on foot paths (x̄ =3.85) were the factors causing the farmers-pastoralists conflict. The study revealed that the farmers-pastoralists’ conflict still happening in Ekiti State. All the factors listed were all major effects encountered by farmers while Pastoralists agreed that relocation of grazing land (x̄ =4.04), no long movement in the community (x̄ =4.15), no night grazing (x̄ =4.38), banishment of pastoralists & their cattle from grazing (x̄ =3.69) and reduction in cordial relationship (x̄ =3.81) were all major effects they encountered. Collective Prayer (100.0%) is the full adopted coping strategy by farmers and pastoralists. The result for farmers showed that intervention by law enforcement agencies (x̄ =1.57) was the only effective resolution mechanism while result for pastoralists depicted that intervention by law enforcement agencies (x̄ =1.23), use of tolerance by both parties (x̄ =1.00) and adopting peaceful settlement (x̄ =1.00) were effective resolution mechanisms. Null hypothesis was accepted as results of the hypothesis 1 showed that no significant association between some socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and resolution mechanisms for farmers-pastoralists’ conflict. Also, farmers’ hypothesis 2 result showed that there was significant association between some coping strategies like fencing of farm (χ2=0.254, p≤0.05), planting of restraining plants (χ2=0.294, p≤0.05), secondary occupation (χ2=0.189, p≤0.05), assistant from association (χ2=0.443, p≤0.05), assistant from relation/friends (χ2=0.292, p≤0.05), assistant from local leaders (χ2=0.199, p≤0.05) and resolution mechanisms for farmers-pastoralists’ conflict while null hypothesis was accepted for relocation of farm (χ2=0.136, p≤0.05) as it was not significantly associated with resolution mechanisms. Pastoralists’ hypothesis 2 result showed that there was significant association between relocation of herd as a coping strategy and resolution mechanisms (χ2=0.466, p≤0.05). It implies that relocation of herd by pastoralists away from conflict areas will strengthens the resolution mechanism for farmers- pastoralists’ conflict. So null hypothesis was accepted for fencing of herd (χ2=0.104, p≤0.05), secondary occupation (χ2=0.083, p≤0.05) and assistant from Sheik (χ2=0.122, p≤0.05) as they were not significantly associated with resolution mechanisms. The study recommended that Government should improve the establishment of Agro Rangers and other local securities in all the local government areas of the state. Ranching should be accepted and encouraged; also the anti grazing agency should be encouraged.