Building Resilience of Rural Farm Households in the Aftermath of Resource-Use Conflicts in Enugu State, Nigeria

This paper examines how farm families mitigate, withstand and bound back from shocks and stresses after violent conflicts with grave consequences. It specifically examines resilient capacities of rural farm households, effects of such conflicts on farm households, and resilient strategies for reducing/preventing occurrence of violent conflicts in rural communities. A total of 300 farm families were selected randomly from the study area. Questionnaire and oral interview were used to elicit information. Data were analyzed descriptively using mean and standard deviation. Result showed that violent conflicts leads to death of farm workers as shown by a mean (M) score of 2.89, farm abandonment (M=3.50), loss of crops and animals (M=3.40), increased hunger and starvation (M=2.90) among other effects. To adapt, mitigate and endure shock resulting from this situation, farmers diversify income and livelihood (M=2.83), use of remittances (M=2.47), participate in co-operative activities (M=2.80), produce high value added crops (M=2.81), supporting new practise and change (M=2.67), have access to market for sale of produce (M=2.70). To reduce future occurrence of conflicts, proper land use planning, compensation of land owners, strengthening conflict management committees, provision of rural basic infrastructure among others should be pursued by government at all levels.