Socio-Economic Effects of Farmer-Pastoralist Conflicts in Western Zone of Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the socio-economic effects of farmer-pastoralist conflicts in western Zone of Bauchi State. Seventy five arable farmers and 75 pastoralists were randomly and purposively selected respectively. Data were collected using questionnaires and were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. The results showed that, majority (58.78%) of the respondents fell within the age brackets of 30-49 years. The results also revealed that, most (82.43%) of respondents were males, 74.32% of them had one form of education or the other. The study also discovered that, more than half (57.43%) of the respondent were involved in farmer-pastoralist conflicts in the study area, and 55.40% of the respondents reported that they incurred losses due to conflict. The major effects of conflicts include poverty (69.59%), break down of trust (62.16%), and food insecurity (50.68%) among others. On the other hand, the major spillover effects of farmer-pastoralist conflicts in the study area include hike in prices of commodities (50.68%), build up of social vices (45.95%), and scarcity of food items (42.57%). The study recommends that, both farmers and pastoralists should be sensitized for the need for peaceful coexistence. In addition, social infrastructures that influence both crops and livestock production should be adequately provided to enhance the economic capability of people and will subsequently reduce poverty and build-up of social vices which are precursors to conflict.