EFFECT OF FARMER-HERDER CONFLICTS ON FOOD SECURITY IN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the effects of farmer-herder conflicts on food security in Taraba State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted for the selection of 400 respondents. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The finding from the study showed that majority of the crop farmers and herders were within the mean ages of 41.1 and 35.5 years, respectively. The findings revealed that the mean years of experience of crop farmers and herders were, 13.6 and 12.5 years, respectively. On the other hand, crop farmers and herders had a mean annual income of ₦130,655.91 and ₦143,308.1 respectively. Most (99.5% and 77.4%) of the herders and crop farmers were male, while majority (67.7% and 64.1%) of the crop farmers and herders were married with a mean household size of 8.7 and 7.9 persons, respectively. Factors such as age (P<0.05 and P<0.01)), household size (P<0.05 and P<0.01), annual income (P<0.01), land size (P<0.01), and conflict involvement (P<0.01) had significant influence on food security status of crop farmers and herders, respectively. The major constraints to conflict resolution strategies were insecurity (93.5%), poor peace building strategy (91.9%) and lack of implementation of livestock development plan (91.4%). The study concluded that age, household size, annual income, land size and conflict involvement significantly influence crop farmers and herders food security status. The study recommends that crop farmers and herders should form community task force to reduce level of insecurity and Government should implement and monitor livestock development plan. In addition, institutions should use bottom up approach in peace building strategies.