Open AccessStrategies for coping with the effects of agricultural land conflict among crop farmers in Imo State, Nigeria
Author(s) -
S. N. Chibundu,
E. N. Matthews-Njoku,
E. N. Okereke-Ejiogu,
P. C. Umunakwe,
J. O. Enugwu,
I. O. Oshaji
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
net journal of agricultural science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2315-9766
DOI - 10.30918/njas.101.22.007
Subject(s) - agriculture , agricultural diversification , agricultural science , agricultural economics , agricultural land , business , geography , economics , environmental science , archaeology
The study examined strategies used by crop farmers in coping with the effects of agricultural land conflicts in Imo State, Nigeria. A sample of 288 crop farmers selected using the multistage sampling technique participated in the study. Data were collected from the farmers using a structured interview schedule and analyzed using percentages and mean. The result showed that maize (94.1%), leafy vegetables (86.8%), yam (77.0%), fruity vegetable (73.5%) and plantain (72.8%) were the major crops grown by the farmers. Perceived causes of land conflicts included undocumented agreement over land use between individuals (97.2%), lack of marked boundaries (89.5%), increasing the value of land (89.5%), new laws, policies or programmes (72.8%), migration (72.8%) and land grabbing (72.8%). Perceived effects of land conflict on crop production were a decline in income (X̅ = 3.8), lack of financial resources (X̅ = 3.8), shortage of inputs (X̅ = 3.8), increase in the cost of inputs (X̅ = 3.8), lack of market for produce (X̅ = 3.8), land redundancy (X̅ = 3.7), improperly timed farming activities (X̅= 3.7), loss lives (X̅ = 3.7) and reduction in plot size (X̅ = 3.5, S.D = 1.0). Coping strategies used were divesting from crop production (X̅ = 4.0), diversification of farm enterprises (X̅ = 3.9), appeasing other parties (X̅=3.9), praying for peace (X̅ = 3.9) and adopting less risky income-generating activities (X̅ = 3.8). It was recommended that existing land governance systems be reviewed in order to accommodate recent changes. Keywords: Conflict resolution, coping strategies, agricultural land, crop farmers, effects, rural areas.