%0 Journal Article
%T The Role of Community Development Committees in Farmer-Herder Conflicts in Central Agricultural Zone of Delta State, Nigeria.
%A Albert Ofuoku
%J Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences
%D 2009
%I Guild of Independent Scholars
%X The study was carried out in Delta Central Agricultural Zone ofDelta State, Nigeria to examine the management of farmer-herderconflicts by community development committees (CDCs). The studyrevealed that farmer-herder conflicts were caused by destruction of crops by cattle, competition for land, cattle rustling, female harassment and ethnic differences. Measures taken to manage the conflicts included formation of local farmers¡¯ associations; compensation of aggrieved parties; punishment of offenders, particularly rustlers; and educating farmers and herders on their interdependence. The measures taken to resolve such disputes were successful at different levels of success. There were significant differences in the perception of the CDC members, farmers and herders on the level of success of measures taken to addresssuch conflicts. It is therefore recommended that CDCs should work closely with local government councils to ensure effective control of the activities of herders. There is also the need to expand the composition of the arbitration team to include representatives of other associations, interest groups and institutions in the study area.
%K Herder
%K Farmer
%K Agriculture
%K Conflict
%K Nigeria
%K Africa
%U http://www.japss.org/upload/23.ofouku.pdf