CROP FARMERS’ ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE CONFLICTS WITH NOMADS IN OYO STATE

Abstract

Conflicts on the use of resources are not uncommon in human systems. However, when they degenerate to violence, threatening progress, peace and development of the society; it would be necessary to address the problem. This study focused on adaptation strategies employed by crop farmers to manage conflicts with nomads in Oyo state. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents for the study. Data were collected with the use of interview schedule on crop farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics, causes of conflicts, effect of conflicts and coping strategies. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential (Chisquare and PPMC) statistics. Results show that most of the respondents were Yoruba (89.2%), male (86.7%), married (98.3%), had farming (87.5%) as their primary occupation with mean age of 55 years. Mostly identified causes of conflicts were crop damage (weighted mean=194.9), indiscriminate bush burning (188.3) and blockage of water (174.2). Effects of conflicts mostly experienced by farmers were reduction in output and income of farmers (197.4), destruction of crops (193.4), anger/anxiety/emotional exhaustion (180.0). Coping strategies mostly employed were prayer for peace (184.9), early harvesting (181.6) and appease of other party (166.6). More than half (55.8%) of the respondents used low level of coping strategies. Significant relationship existed between coping strategies employed and ethnicity (χ2=11.609), other forms of education (χ2=19.164; p=0.001) as well as effect of conflicts (r=0.400). Adaptation strategies employed by the respondents should be investigated, validated and adopted by appropriate authorities in order to mitigate the regular conflicts among farmers and nomads in Nigeria.