THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF FARMERS-HERDERS’ CONFLICT IN BAUCHI STATE: A CASE STUDY OF MISAU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT This study examined the economic implications of farmers–herders’ conflict in Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria. The research was motivated by the rising frequency and intensity of clashes between farmers and herders in the region, and the severe disruptions these conflicts cause to agricultural productivity, food security, and rural livelihoods. A qualitative research design was employed, relying on in-depth interviews with twenty respondents comprising ten farmers and ten herders, and narrative analysis was used to interpret the interview data, ensuring that the voices of participants were preserved while situating their experiences within broader theoretical and empirical perspectives. Findings revealed that the conflict has significantly undermined both farming and herding activities, with farmers reporting recurrent crop destruction, abandonment of fertile land, food insecurity, and declining income, while herders highlighted shrinking grazing reserves, restricted access to water points, cattle losses, and widespread stigmatization. Both groups emphasized a growing sense of mistrust, the weakening of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, and the politicization of the conflict. The study further established that these conflicts erode intercommunal relationships, reduce market participation, and discourage investment in agriculture, thereby exacerbating poverty in Misau LGA. The research concludes that addressing the conflict requires a multifaceted approach that combines improved land-use planning, establishment of grazing reserves, equitable access to water resources, fair and inclusive justice systems, and the revitalization of traditional mediation structures. It recommends that government and stakeholders strengthen community peacebuilding platforms, provide livelihood diversification opportunities for youth, and depoliticize the conflict to foster sustainable coexistence, noting that resolving the farmers–herders conflict in Misau is not only a matter of security but also a prerequisite for economic stability, food security, and sustainable rural development in Bauchi State.