Determinants of institutional conflicts resolution achievement among crop farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria

This study investigated with the determinants of institutional involvements in conflicts resolution in Oyo state. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 farmers. Variables measured were farmers’ enterprise characteristics, institutional involvement, conflicts resolution strategies employed, constraints to conflicts resolution and extent of conflicts resolution achievement. Data were collected using interview schedule and analysed with the use of descriptive and inferential (PPMC and linear regression) statistics. Results revealed that 44.2% of the respondents were large scale farmers with 28.0 mean years of farming experience. Institutions mostly involved in conflicts resolution were traditional rulers (weighted score=262.7), crop farmer groups (192.3) and local government committee (188.4). Strategies mostly employed for conflicts resolution were prayer for peace (284.8), appeased the other parties involved (266.6) and educating farmers on their interdependence with the herdsmen (265). Language barrier (291.7), lack of funds for farmers’ association to intervene (291.7), hostility (289.8) were the mostly identified constraints to conflicts resolution achievement. More (56.7%) respondents held that there was low level of conflict resolution achievement. Significant relationship existed between conflict resolution achievement and institutional involvement (r =0.98) as well as conflicts resolution strategy employed (r =0.73). Factors associated with conflicts resolution achievement were resolution strategy (β=0.11) and institutional involvement (β=0.90).Therefore, effective involvement of institutions in conflicts resolution is highly recommended to resolving disputes and ameliorating the different interests of the farmers and herdsmen.