ABSTRACT
This
study examined the history of Fulani-herdsmen and farmers’ crises up to
2018: Causes, Effects and its Management. The source of information for this
study is secondary which relied mostly on Newspapers and internet materials.
From the study, the major causes are; the traditional trek routes, which become
favorite cropping sites because of their better soil fertility resulting from
the concentration of animal manure from the trekking herds in these areas.
Inadequacy of grazing resources and poor management of the existing grazing
reserves has resulted to the crises. On the effects, it has social and economic
effects; social effects- Sexual harassment of women, acquiring of weapons/arms
and reduction in quality of social relationship, economic effects- Loss of
produce in storage, displacement of farmers, and reduction in output and income
of farmers/nomads. As a result of the above, we recommend the following: The
Federal Government as a matter of urgency should ensure that ranches are
created in states that want them. This will go a long way to stop movement of
the cows, reduce clashes, and these cows‟ stands to do well when provided for
as in the case of India, Chad and other countries of the world that export cow
milk and meat. The Federal Government of Nigeria needs to invest on National
Orientation programs for the need to value lives in this country. The National
Orientations Agency should be strategic in this direction.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Land
is probably the most important resource needed by Man for his day-to-day
existence. All human livelihoods and activities are directly or indirectly
dependent on land at varying thresholds. But land connotes different meanings
to the various user groups. For instance, builders, manufacturers, fishermen,
miners, hunters and farmers have different specifications in their requirements
for land for their production/services. Out of all user groups, agricultural
production perhaps exhibits the highest form of sophistication in its use of
land. Not only must agricultural land be capable of supplying crop-specific
nutrients and water; soil temperature, structure, texture and PH levels are
inevitable requisites in the choice of land for agricultural production
activities. Yet, land is a limited, somewhat scarce resource with both
artificial and natural access and usage barriers (Rashid 2012).
These
factors of specifications, multifarious uses of land and its limitedness have
necessitated that various shades of competition for its utilization must ensue.
Thus, competition for land between and within various user groups has been the
bane of mankind since time immemorial. Non-agricultural user groups compete
with
agricultural
user groups on one hand, while there are various levels of intra-user group
competition on the other. Indeed, competition for land use is becoming keener
and fiercer, largely due to increasing human and animal populations (Richard
1976). It has been illustrated that increasing population growth rate has
continued to exert great pressure on available land resources with varying
environmental and socioeconomic implications (Fiki and Lee, 2004).
Crime
rate and other forms of crises have increased overtime in Nigeria. a lot of
effort has been put together to resolve the issue of crise and other forms of
conflict in Nigeria.
According
to Hellstrom, 2001; Niemella et al, 2005) stated that the incessant resource
conflicts witnessed in the tropics have resulted in loss of lives, properties
and environmental degradation as a also witnessed in some developed countries
such as Balhans.
This
incidence is now a household name among the West African countries including
Nigeria.
(Thebaud
and Batterburry, 2001) in their research stated that the Fulani Herds men have
borne a large proportion of the blame for most conflict and environmental
degradation in policy statements in the Guinea Savannah region of West African
states.
The
Fulani herdsmen brutality that was experienced lately in Benue state was a
result of fighting space for grazing land. It is evident from the instructions
from the president of Nigeria that each stated must provide a grazing space for
the Fulani herdsmen; which resulted to conflict in most of the rural areas in
Nigeria as a result of high level of illiteracy and greed.
According
to Berger (2003) stated that there is a need for grazing movements to access
pasture resources across regions in order to ensure food security for the
herds. Hence, pastures, woody vegetation, water resources and land are taken as
a common property resource.
Most
of the local government area in Benue and Kogi State has had a terrible
experience lately as a result of crises over grazing space. It was reported
that the complex land-use system that has changed markedly over time, has
culminated in the present day tension and conflicts between herds man and host
communities.
Jibo
et al. (2001) reported that the Benue Valley region in Nigeria had witnessed
violent conflicts enough to attract both State and National attention. Crops,
livestock’s, water resources and other vegetal resources played key roles in
the development, maintenance and projection of socio-economic strength of a
society (Schama, 1996). The Fulani herdsmen livelihood strategies had resulted
in conflicts over the destruction of crops. The environmental degradation is
perceived to be contributing enormously to the deterioration in ecosystem
services to the environment of various communities. It is to this regard that
study wishes to use Buruku local and Anyangba government area of Benue and Kogi
State respectively as the case study.
1.2 Statement Of Research
Problem
What
really instigated the study was as result of threat pose by the activities of
the Fulani herdsmen on lives and socioeconomic development in Nigeria. It is
evident that the constant change in complex land-use system has culminated in the
present day tension and conflicts between herds man and host communities.
Secondly the level of illiteracy in most of the communities has significant
effect on the effectiveness of communication among the fulani herdsmen and the
members of the various communities. The ongoing incidence has resulted to lost
of lives, damage of crops, livestock and environmental degradation.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The
broad objective of this study is to assess the history of farmer-herdsmen
crisis in Nigeria. The specific objectives are to :
i.
Examine is the cause of the farmer- Fulani
herdsmen conflict in Nigeria
ii.
Discuss the components of fulani social
organization
iii.
Examine the factors affecting the migration
the Fulani herdsmen into other regions of Nigeria
iv.
Provide a historical analysis of
farmers-herders crisis in Nigeria up to 2018
1.4 Significance of the study
Sustainable
development in rural agriculture requires the prevalence of peaceful
cohabitation among crop farmers and cattle herders. The disruption of
agricultural productivity, as a result of herdsmen brutality hampers
development and as well may lead to intensification of poverty. The Conflicts
have led to grave consequences like death, starvation, poverty, social unrest
and unquantifiable losses among the citizens of different nations (Olabode and
Ajibade 2010). Therefore, there is need to study and understand the principles
and history of conflict and to find out appropriate strategies for negotiating
and amicably resolving them.
This
study sought to provide the information that can be used to formulate practical
policies that would be of assistance towards reducing the senseless destruction
of crops, cattle, property and human lives. The destruction of crops, killing
of cattle and human beings take place in the study area as a result of resource
use competition. This killing and destruction could be settled amicably through
the promotion of positive values. Understanding the socio-economic
characteristics and production system of both groups will assist in proffering
meaningful solutions to the incessant and terrible conflict between cattle
herders and farmers.
From
the foregoing, it is discernible that there is a compelling need to continue to
find lasting solutions to the frequent problems posed by crop farmers and
cattle herders conflicts that displaces crop Farmers and cattle Herders as well
as claiming human lives, crops and animals.....
================================================================
Item Type: Project Material | Attribute: 49 pages | Chapters: 1-5
Format: MS Word | Price: N3,000 | Delivery: Within 30Mins.
================================================================
No comments:
Post a Comment