CAUSES AND EFFECT OF CONFLICT BETWEEN CATTLE HERDERS AND CROP FARMERS IN GIREI, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Crop farmers and cattle herders conflict have remained the most prevailing resource-use conflict in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Social and economic factors confined to inflame violent conflicts. The competition between these two Agricultural land user-groups threats the means of survival in the study area. The study describes socio-economic characteristics of the farmers and herders and determines the causes of conflict in the study area. Primary data were collected by the use structured questionnaire. The data were subjected to simple percentages and chi-square analysis. The study revealed that the major causes of conflict in the study area are the crop damage by cattle, and lawlessness in the society. The findings also revealed that loss of expected yield, loss of cattle and loss of human lives and properties are the major effects of conflict. The study also concludes that the conflicts sometimes spread and lead to ethnic clashes and armed robbery. Therefore it is the interest of the state to address the genuine needs of herders and crop farmers since these two provides employment for almost all the rural people. It is recommended that strange faces identified should be reported and leaders should preach the implications of conflict in the society.