Effects of Fulani and Herdsman Farmers clashes on Agricultural development in Nigeria

Abstract

The research work is titled the effect of Fulani Herdsmen and Farmers clashes on agricultural development in Nigeria. The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of Fulani Herdsmen and Farmers clashes on agricultural development in Ukpabi-Nimbo Community in Enugu State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: determine the causes of Fulani – Herdsmen and farmers’ clashes in Ukpabi-Nimbo, Enugu State, investigate the social effects of the menace of Fulani – Herdsmen on farmers in Ukpabi-Nimbo, Enugu State and find out the economic effects of the threat of Fulani – Herdsmen on farmers in Ukpabi-Nimbo, Enugu State. The study employed survey design via descriptive method. Taro Yameni formula was used to determine the sample size of 399 respondents of Ukpabi-Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government. The researcher sourced materials through primary and secondary sources. The primary data include questionnaire distribution while secondary data include textbooks, journal, internet articles etc. Data collected were analyzed using simple table and percentage analysis while the hypotheses formulated were tested using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) v. 23. The study found that: there is significant difference between farmers and Fulani perception of the causes of Fulani – Herdsmen and farmers clashes in Ukpabi-Nimbo, Enugu State; Fulani – Herdsmen menace has significant social effect on farmers in Ukpabi-Nimbo, Enugu State and Fulani – Herdsmen threat has significant economic effect on farmers in Ukpabi-Nimbo, Enugu State since the significance value (p-value) of 0.013, 0.020, 0.046 < 0.05 level of significant respectively. It therefore recommended that Both Federal and State government should engage peace and conflict resolution experts in dealing with issues concerning herdsmen-farmer clashes. This will enable effective dialogues, negotiations and of course a win-win resolution, while encouraging early warning mechanism.