HERDSMEN –FARMERS CONFLICTS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS IN AKOKO NORTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

This research studied Herdsmen-farmers Conflicts, Agricultural Productivity and Food Supply Chains in Akoko North West local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria. Employing a descriptive research design, data was collected from 132 respondents through a structured questionnaire. Findings revealed that the majority of the respondents including both herdsmen and farmers were subsistence farmers though few also engage in commercial farming. Regarding the causes of the conflicts, lack of grazing fields, indiscriminate bush burning, crop destruction, etc. were responsible for the occurrence of the clashes. No significant difference was found in the perceptions of the herdsmen and farmers on causes of the conflicts. Impacts of herdsmen-farmers’ conflicts as revealed by the study included loss of crops, reduced productivity, loss of lives, increase in prices of agricultural products, increased poverty etc. Based on the findings made, it was concluded that, if the causes of herdsmen-farmers’ conflicts were not properly addressed; its impacts will continue to escalate with devastating consequences. Besides, the menace of food insecurity which have bedeviled the areas for many years can also be worsened by the impacts of such conflicts especially that poverty, food insecurity and increased tension were also cited by many scholars as some of the factors fuelling conflicts in the areas studied. The study therefore recommends include; Government should implement creation of farm estates, grazing reserves and branches in order to reduce conflicts over land resources between the two groups; local government should be involved in building peaceful co-existence between herdsmen and farmers; Nigerians in general should imbibe spirit of patriotism and determination to shun conflict among the existing heterogeneous characteristics in the country; building communication between and among farmers and herdsmen on the need to protect each other’s business (cattles and farm products) and herdsmen –farmers association could be established at the local level to manage any possible conflict.