Socio Economic Effects of Fulani and Farmers’ Conflict on Maize Farmers’ Output in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State

This study determined the socio-economic effects of Fulani and farmers conflict on maize farmers’ output in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State. Objectives of this study were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, identify the causes of the herdsmen-farmers conflict, determine the output differences before, during and after conflict and identify the farmer’s perceived solution to end conflict in the study area. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents for this study. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to realize the objectives of the study. The results on socio economic characteristics of the respondents showed that 32.5% of the respondents were between the age of 45-54 years, majority (75.8%) of the respondents were male, most (66.7%) of the respondents were married. 33.3 % of the respondents had secondary education, most (68.3%)of the respondents had farming as their secondary occupation, majority (73.3%) of the respondent had 1-10 years of farming experience, majority (60.0%) of the respondents were not have access to extension services, majority (79.2%) of the respondents earn 10,000-50,000, 51.7% of the respondents were Christians, most (62.5%) of the respondents had 1-5 households, majority (92.5%) of the respondents had 1-5 farm size, most (60.8%) of the respondents were member of cooperative society, 38.3% of the respondents inherited their farmland. The result on causes of the herdsmen-farmers conflict showed that majority (81.7%) experience conflict between farmers and herdsmen, 91.7% of the respondents experienced negative effect of the conflict on maize production, destruction of maize by cattle (36.7%) and killing of farmers (31.7%), as the main causes of the conflict in the study area. The results on output differences before, during and after conflict revealed that farmers produced average of 1,235 (kg/tons), 1,198(kg/tons) and 1,029 (kg/tons) of maize before, during and after the conflict respectively. Also, farmers spent ₦2,677, ₦2,497 and ₦2,389 on maize production (kg/tons) before, during and after the conflict respectively. Moreover, farmers sold maize (kg/tons) for ₦2,500, ₦1,882 and ₦1,777 before, during and after the conflict respectively. Results on perceived solution to end conflict were: government should provide adequate security (40.0%) and making of rules and regulations that will guide grazing (33.3%). Results also revealed that there is significant relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers and their maize output. From the findings of this study, it is recommended that to prevent further community clashes in farming communities, government and relevant agencies should collaborate with traditional institutions to settle rivalries amicably among parties before it degenerates into serious security challenge. Also, government should provide palliative to the affected farmers in the study area as this will cushion the effect of conflict on them.