Socio-Economic Effects of Farmers-Fulani Herdsmen's Conflict on Farmers Output in Benue, Nigeria

Download or read book Socio-Economic Effects of Farmers-Fulani Herdsmen's Conflict on Farmers Output in Benue, Nigeria written by Victor Ijirshar and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Land as an indispensible factor of production has been at the centre of several conflicts among men. This study analysed the conflict between Benue farmers and Fulani Herdsmen in Benue state with particular emphasis on the socio-economic effects of the conflict on Benue farmers output in the study area. The study adopted the theory of dialectical-materialism which insists on interpreting man's consciousness and activities in the society based on the competitive balance and satisfaction of economic factors among different groups. The study adopted a survey design technique via a cross-sectional approach that involves field and sample surveys. The sample size of 340 Benue farmers was chosen from the population of Benue farmers who are affected by Fulani Herdsmen attack. The study used regression analysis to examine the effect of the attacks on farmers' output in Benue state. The study found that, the number of Fulani Herdsmen attack and deaths recorded have negative effect on Benue farmers output in the study area and the socioeconomic effects of the conflict resulting to reduction in crop yield and income of the Benue farmers; displacement of farmers, loss of lives and properties, loss of products in storage and destruction of public and private facilities. The study therefore recommended that, elements of compromise and arbitration should be devised to resolve conflicts. Alternatively, the farmers need to be educated on the need to the seasonal migration of the nomads and the nomads on the other hand must be made to exercise patient with their animals until the farmers are through with their harvests in order to reduce the number of attacks/deaths arising from the use of land and also the need of traditional rulers and community leaders to serve as mediator between both and the creation of reserve areas for nomadic activities in the study area.