EFFECTIVENESS OF TRADITIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION MECHANISMS IN IMPROVING FARMER–PASTORALIST RELATIONS IN NASARAWA AND NIGER STATES, NIGERI

Abstract

The study examined the effectiveness of traditional conflict resolution (TCR) mechanisms in improving farmer–pastoralist relations in Nasarawa and Niger States, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select a total of two hundred and ninety (290) farmer while snowball sampling was used to select eighty-nine (89) pastoralist. Data were collected from primary source using a semi-structured questionnaire complemented with interview schedule. The data collected were analyzed using both descriptive statistics such as (means, percentages and frequency distribution) and inferential statistics such as (Ordered logit regression model, Heckman model regression, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The results shows that all the pastoralists (100.0%) and (95.5%) of the farmers were male with a mean age of 40 years and 41 years respectively. Majority (95.5%) and (90.3%) of the pastoralist and farmer in the study area were married with household size of 8 and 9 persons respectively. The mean experience in primary occupation of farmer and pastoralist were 19 years and 14 years respectively. The major causes of conflict as reported by farmer were crop damage (87.2%) and stealing of crops (48.6%) while damage to crops (60.7%) and competition for land and water (34.8%) were the major causes of conflict as reported by pastoralist. Use of agents to monitor the conflict ( ̅X=13.50) and dialogue/convening meeting (X̅=13.46) were the most common TCR mechanisms used as reported by farmer while compensation and punishment ( ̅X=16.28) and dialogue/convening meeting (X̅=12.33) were the commonest mechanisms reported by pastoralist. Further findings show that the farmer are willing to use TCR because TCR mechanisms focus is on understanding issues better (X̅=4.15) and panelists involved in TCR are highly experienced ( ̅X=4.11) while the pastoralist were willing to use TCR because TCR is restorative ( ̅X=3.80) and parties have equal control over the outcome ( ̅X=3.76). The coefficient of experience in farming (0.00402037), education status (0.004) number of conflicts (-0.0049) influenced the farmer willingness to use TCR while marital status (-0.3494), extension access (2.584) and cooperative membership (0.8881) influenced the pastoralist willingness to use TCR. The most effective TRC mechanisms as reported by farmer were mediation by elders ( ̅X=2.57) and dialogue/convening meeting ( ̅X=2.54) while mediation by elders ( ̅X=2.61) and compensation and punishment ( ̅X=2.31) were the most effective TRC mechanisms as reported by pastoralist. The coefficient of occupation (-0.6152), experience (-0.0309), educational status (0.0677) and cooperative membership (0.8071) influenced farmer opinion on the effectiveness of TCR while household size (0.1096), cooperative membership (2.2719) and number of conflicts (0.3723) influence pastoralist opinion on the effectiveness of TCR mechanisms. Re-establishing cattle routes ( ̅X=7.84) and provision of education and civic training for both farmer and pastoralist ( ̅X=7.58) were the most preventive measures used to avert conflict as reported by farmer while pastoralist reported that avoiding indiscriminate bush burning ( ̅X =7.94) and compensation by the culprits ( ̅X =7.88) were the preventive measures used. Farmer reported that distrust, leadership factor, cultural/political factors were the problems associated with TCR while cultural differences, attitudinal factors and knowledge and distrust were the problems associated with TCR as perceived by the pastoralist. There was significant relationship between socio economic characteristics and effectiveness of TCR mechanisms among the respondents in the study area. It was recommended that extension agents, NOA and other stakeholders should enlighten pastoralist on the need to compensate farmer that lose their produce to herdsmen attacks, It is necessary to increase extension visitation to farmer in order to boost their willingness level and that older pastoralist should be involved and encouraged to use TCR for conflict resolution in the study area.