Analysis of farmer-herder conflicts in Zamfara State of Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyse the conflicts occurring between farmers and herders in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Respondents for the study were farmers and herders that are found in the study area. Cluster sampling was used in the selection of four local government areas (Birnin Magaji, Zurmi, Talata Mafara and Tsafe) where the study was conducted. Existence of possible sources of conflicts between herders and farmers served as the basis for the selection. A total of 235 respondents (160 farmers and 75 herders) were randomly selected and interviewed with the aid of structured questionnaires. Frequency distributions and Chi-square test were employed in data analysis. The results show that majority of the farmers (84.4%) combine crop production with animal husbandry while most (65.3%) of the herders were sedentary type. Similarly, herders (57.3%) and farmers (56.3%) have reported farmer-herder relations in the area to be oscillatory in nature. The occurrence of farmer-herder conflict was very high in the study area because majority of the farmers (90.7%) and herders (82.7%) have ever witnessed such disputes. Nomads and semi-settled herders were mostly involved in the conflicts. Devolution of control of natural resources to local communities has been recommended as possible solution to these crises.