HERDER-FARMER CRISES AND FOOD SECURITY IN AGATU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Herder-farmer crises have become frequent occurrences especially among rural communities in recent years. Farmers have decried their inability to undertake farming activities due to such crises. Thus, this incidence has brought about food scarcity and hike in food prices not only in the affected communities but across the globe. This study therefore assessed herder-farmer crises and food security in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State. Specifically, the study investigated the causes of herder-farmer crises and the consequences on food security. The study adopted the frustration-aggression theory and utilized cross-sectional survey design. A sample of 394 respondents was drawn from a population of 166,900 using multistage sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was semi-structured interview. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics tool such as frequencies and simple percentages. Findings identified land encroachment, inadequacy of security personnel and absence of anti-open grazing law as causes of the crises. Findings indicated that herder-farmer crises affect food availability, accessibility and stability in the study area by denying farmers access to farmlands to cultivate crops. The study therefore recommends that the Benue State Government in collaboration with the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency deploy adequate security personnel to Agatu land. The Federal Government should also compensate victims of the crises as most of them lack shelter, adequate food and access to quality health care, amongst others.