Effects of Herders-Farmers Conflict on Socio-Economic Development in Selected Rural Communities in Enugu State

This research work focused on “Effects of Herders-Crop Farmers conflict on socio-economic development of selected rural communities in Enugu State. The study covered, Nimbo, Okpone, Amodu, Ajuona, Ogbo, Ahani, Amofu and Nkerefi of Enugu State which have experienced pronounced herders/ farmers conflicts over time which have affected not only the rural communities alone but the entire state. The specific objectives are to determine the effect of herders-crop farmers conflict on manpower development of selected rural communities in Enugu State, to ascertain the effect of herders-crop farmers conflict on the standard of living in selected rural communities in Enugu State and to find out if herders/farmers conflict in selected rural communities has any significant effect on the safety and security of lives and properties. The study was anchored on eco-violence theory as enunciated by Homer Dixon in 1998. A descriptive survey design was adopted with a population of 200 respondents drawn from the eight (8) communities under study. Data for the study was generated by means of the structured questionnaire. The findings of the research revealed amongst others that there is high rate of manpower loss and non-development due to herders-crop farmers conflict in selected communities in Enugu State. The paper concludes that reduction of incessant violent conflicts between pastoralist herders and farmers in the state will avert continued migration of the remaining manpower especially of the youth population from the rural communities to the urban areas where they seem to find at least maximum safety. Based on the forgoing, the study recommended that there should be proper review of the security apparatus to provide maximum security in the rural communities to ensure retention of the manpower in the rural communities to boost agricultural production. Furthermore, government should come up with adequate measures to improve the educational standards as well as facilities in the rural communities with adequate security to ensure participation for literacy level development in the rural communities and legislation to outlaw pastoralism and adopt ranching as a method of herding activities amongst other recommendations. Some implications of the study include the facts that strengthening of existing laws, contemporary legislations will help to overhaul the security apparatus especially at the rural communities with adequate peace education coupled with enforcing legislations outlawing open grazing to provide for more modern system of herding like the ranch and the cage system of keeping herds, among others