FARMERS-HERDERS CONFLICTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR FOOD PRODUCTION IN MANGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, PLATEAU STATE

ABSTRACT Mangu Local Government Area, widely recognized as an agricultural hub for crops such as maize, Irish potatoes, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and cattle production, has come under heavy attacks since 2023, with violence continuing to recur. As a result, this study examines Farmers-Herders Conflicts: Implications on Food Production in Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State. It specifically sought to investigate the main causes of farmers-herders conflict, the effect of these conflicts on food security, the impact on the livelihood and wellbeing of the people, and how such conflicts have affected peaceful coexistence and social relationships in ManguLGA. The study was anchored on Social Conflict Theory and adopted a descriptive survey design, considered suitable for a mixed-method research tradition. Both questionnaires and in-depth interview guides were used as instruments of data collection. A sample size of 389 was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula out of the 442,100 current projected population of Mangu. The study employed a multi-stage and stratified sampling technique. Quantitative data collected were analyzed using SPSS and presented in frequency tables, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. From the analysis, the study discovered that several causes of farmers-herders conflict exist in ManguLGA, with farmland encroachment identified as the dominant factor. The conflict has disrupted farming activities and cattle rearing, thereby affecting food security in significant ways; making it difficult to grow crops and rear animals, displacing people into IDP camps, and leading to food scarcity, hunger, and starvation. Beyond the impact on food production, the conflict has strained social relationships and disrupted peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders. The study therefore recommended that the government should establish and protect clear grazing and farming boundaries through modern land management systems (such as satellite mapping, fencing, and designated routes). In addition, faith-based organizations, CSOs, and community groups should implement relief programs to provide food, medical care, and educational support to displaced families, thereby reducing the shocks experienced due to the conflict.