Constraints to utilization of coping strategies among arable crop farmers in herdsmen-farmers conflicts in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study identified the constraints to the utilization of coping strategies by arable crop farmers in herders-farmers conflicts in Osun State, Nigeria. It specifically described the socioeconomic characteristics of arable crop farmers, identified the coping strategies used by the arable crop farmers and identified the constraints to utilizing the coping strategies. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 270 arable crop farmers for the study. A well-structured interview schedule was used to collect data from the arable crop farmers. Data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation. The results revealed that the mean age of the arable crop farmers was 51±8.2 years, the majority (80.7%) of the arable crop farmers were males, a majority (88.5%) were married, the mean household was 8 and almost all (99.3%) had no insurance for their farm crops. Coping strategies utilized were praying for peace (x ̅ =2.75) and early harvesting (x ̅ =2.48). Constraints experienced were farm destruction in absence of the farmers (x ̅ =4.75) and difficulty in borrowing money (x ̅ =4.62). The study recommended that the farmers should ensure their crops, and that government and stakeholders should lessen the constraints to the utilization of the coping strategies in the study area.