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Impact of Farmer-Herder Conflicts on Food Security in Northern Senatorial District of Adamawa State

Zainul Abideen Jibril, Abubakar Adamu and Mr Sunday Ngamsan Jirah

Abstract

Farmer-herder conflicts in Nigeria’s northern regions have intensified, threatening food security and rural livelihoods. The northern senatorial district of Adamawa state is particularly affected, yet research on the precise impact of these conflicts on food security in this area is limited. This study assessed the impact of farmer-herder conflicts on food security in the northern senatorial district of Adamawa state, identifying conflict causes and consequences, and examining their effects on food availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. A stratified two-stage cluster sampling design was employed to select 400 households, out of which 384 questionnaires were returned. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and MANOVA. The study revealed significant impacts of farmer-herder conflicts on all four dimensions of food security. Conflicts disrupted agricultural activities, limited food access, affected nutritional quality, and compromised food supply stability. Main causes included land disputes, water scarcity, crop damage, and cattle rustling. Farmer-herder conflicts significantly affect food security in the northern senatorial district of Adamawa state, necessitating targeted interventions to mitigate their impact and enhance rural household resilience.

Keywords

Farmer-herder conflict; Food security; Rural livelihoods; Agricultural productivity;

References

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