Empirical Evaluation of Farmer-Herders’ Conflict in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria

The conflict between crop farmers and cattle herders has become a persistent issue in many regions of Nigeria, including the Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State. This study evaluates the nature of such conflict in the state and how it is managed using a multistage sampling technique to select 120 arable crop farmers in the state. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires. The study findings show that poor communication, crop destruction, and cattle theft are the primary causes of conflict between the crop farmers and cattle herders in Kwara State. Of all these causes, 84.4% of the study participants ranked poor communication as the first major cause of conflict, 67.5% ranked crop destruction as the second major cause of conflict, and 53.1% ranked cattle theft as the third major cause of conflict. These conflicts result in detrimental effects, such as property damage and loss of life. This study reveals that negotiation (83.1%), mediation (3.2%), and sanctioning (3.3%) are the conflict management strategies employed in addressing conflicts among the farmers and herders in Kwara State. Despite the use of negotiation, mediation, and sanctioning as conflict management strategies, conflicts persist between arable crop farmers and cattle herders in the study location. This persistence shows there is a need for improved education and communication between stakeholders to address this issue. The study recommends educational programs and enhanced communication channels to foster peaceful coexistence. Overall, the findings underscore the complex dynamics of farmer-herder conflicts and the importance of sustainable conflict resolution approaches. Keywords: Farmer-herder conflict, conflict management, communication, sustainable coexistence.