Mitigating Herder-Farmer Conflict through Resource Governance in the Era of Climate Change

Climate change-induced land resource scarcities have intensified the exploitation of land, escalating tensions between sedentary farmers and itinerant pastoralists. These tensions have degenerated into frequent and widespread clashes, resulting in significant casualties, mortalities, and morbidities in Nigeria. While existing literature identifies climate change and demographic pressures as primary drivers of these conflicts, policy responses have been limited to banning open grazing—an approach marked by weak enforcement and low compliance. This policy gap underscores the need for actionable solutions, which this paper seeks to address. This study examines the recurring herder-farmer crises within the context of climate change and its far-reaching implications. By analyzing secondary data and applying the resource partitioning model, the paper advocates for comprehensive policies focused on environmental remediation, effective resource governance, and regulated open grazing practices. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of building climate resilience through resource partitioning to foster complementarity and interdependence between herders and farmers. The approach aims to promote mutual coexistence by enabling the equitable and sustainable use of shared ecological resources, ultimately mitigating conflict and enhancing livelihoods.