Climate-Induced Conflicts between Rural Farmers and Cattle Herders
Publisher: Ecorestoration for Sustainability
Author(s): Angela Oyilieze Akanwa, Arban Banjerjee, Manoj Kumar Jhariya, L.N. Muoghalu, A.U. Okonkwo, F.I. Ikegbuna, I.C. Ezeomedo, S.O. Okeke, P.U. Igwe, V.C. Arah, C.C. Anukwonke, M.C. Obidiegwu, and E.I. Madukasi
Date: 2023
Topics: Climate Change, Conflict Causes, Governance, Land, Livelihoods, Renewable Resources
Countries: Nigeria
In recent times, Nigeria has experienced increasing violence in the nation's middle belt region particularly “Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Taraba” state seven spreading to south eastern Nigeria. This disagreement is sourced from the extreme global warming impacts particularly on diminishing green areas. Considering that the nation's climate has faced intense dramatic irregularities especially in the north where seasons of extreme drought have been experienced. This has forced herders toward the agrarian south where there is large expanse of rural farm settlements. The cattle herders have taken gross advantage of the green lands for grazing activities which have led to indiscriminate grazing and destruction of farm crops and escalating violent actions. This has resulted in huge deaths, massive human displacement and even more worrisome a rising level of food insecurity and hunger crisis. This chapter employed a secondary source of data to establish that herdsmen conflicts have diminished food supplies and threatened food ways in Nigeria. Also, the concepts of sustainable agriculture and environmental justice were employed in this chapter. Evidently, there is a threat on crop production, rising food scarcity and insecurity, increased food prices, hindrance of food distribution by blocking transportation routes from farms to the markets and urban areas, food wastage due to poor storage facilities and epileptic power supply in these rural areas. There is a need for immediate intensified security units in affected vulnerable areas, prosecution of perpetrators of violence, ranching, and reform of livestock sector. Further, to encourage intensified agricultural production and local agribusiness/food supplies in other parts of Nigeria; and the application of science-based adaptation strategies and policies to minimize climate induced drought in North.