PLANTING OF COMMON FODDER TREES AND SHRUBS FED TO LIVESTOCK AS PANACEA TO PASTORALIST -FARMER CONFLICTS IN JIGAWA STATE

Abstract

A multiple –stage sampling was used to elicit information on the common fodder, trees, shrubs and grasses species fed to livestock by agro- pastoralists, in Jigawa state. A total size of two hundred farmers was used, where five local governments were purposely selected bases on high concentration of agro- pastoralists. The first stage involved selection of local government areas (LGAs). (Auyo, Gwaram, Guri, Kafin Hausa and Kirikasamma); in the second stage eight villages were selected based on the number of the agro- pastoralists and in the final stage, five households were finally selected randomly selected within each of the selected villages. The results revealed a total of fourty six (46) forages were recorded in the study area. Twenty-eight (28) trees species, twelve (12) grass species and six (6) shrub species. The most commonly browse trees were Azadirachta indica, Spondias mombin, Daniella oliveri, Sclerocarya birrea, Albizia labbeck and Ficus spp. The common shrubs include Commiphora africana, Ziziphus –spina Christi and Moringa oleifera. The grass species widely use and common during rainy season includes Panicum maximum, Pennisetum pedicillatum, Axonopus compressus, Digitaria debilis and Commelina benghalensis. Other attributes on the plants such as medicinal, economic and environmental were also reported. Cultivation of these crops were necessary in such a way that these feeds may reduce farmer and pastoralists conflicts in many areas, as this is one of the major security challenges in Nigeria.