FARMER-HERDER CONFLICT AND RICE PRODUCTION IN EBONYI STATE

Abstract

The study assessed the effect of farmers’ displacement due to farmers-herdsmen conflict on rice production in Ebonyi State. Specifically, it identified the causes of farmers-herdsmen conflict, ascertained the perceived effect of farmers-herdsmen conflict on rice production, and identified measures that can be adopted toward resolving the conflict.  Multistage sampling procedure was adopted in selecting 60 rice farmers with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Means, frequency distribution, percentage, and ordinal least squares (OLS) regression analysis were used to analyze the data collected. Results showed that farmers perceived the destruction of cultivated farmland by the cattle (), migration of herders (), and ape (), amongst others as the major causes of the conflict in the study area. The study revealed that the perceived effect was low productivity (), increase in the price of rice (), displacement of rice farmers (), death of farmers () amongst others, were the major effects of the conflict. Results showed that the major measures to adopt in resolving the conflicts were an intensive system of cattle rearing (), education of herders (), provision of grants (), provision of input () amongst others. the estimated regression result showed that household size (t-value =12.463) and membership of a cooperative (t-value = 3.516) significantly influenced rice farmers perceived effect of displacement due to farmers-herdsmen conflict on rice production have a significant influence on the perceived effect of farmers’ displacement due to farmers-herdsmen conflict on rice production in Ebonyi State. It was, therefore, recommended that practicing intensive system of rearing cattle should be adopted in resolving the conflict in the study area.