Crop farmers and pastoralists’ socio-economic characteristics influencing agricultural land use conflicts in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study analyzed the influence of socioeconomic characteristics on crop farmers and pastoralists’ land use conflicts in Abia state, Southeast, Nigeria. Data were collected with structured questionnaire, complimented with observation from 300 crop farmers and 40 pastoralists and analyzed using ordinary least squares regression model. On the part of the crop farmers, the result indicates that three of the ten independent variables (sex, family size and farm size) influenced positively and significantly crop farmers and pastoralists land use conflict. On the part of the nomads, household size (t=2.131), educational level (t=2.222) and social organization membership (t=2.144) all influenced positively land use conflict at 0.05% probability level. Herding experiences (t=3.141) also influenced positively and significantly the perceived causes of land use conflict at 0.01% level of significance. It was recommended that government should fasten the creation of more grazing reserves following the challenges of climate change for easy access by the pastoralists. The government should fasten the proposed demarcation of livestock route and grazing fields to promote peaceful coexistence.

Keywords: Conflicts, Crop Farmers, Pastoralists, Land use, Land tenure