Conflict Management and Farmers’ Production Level in Oke-Ogun Area of Oyo State

Abstract

Aim: Conflict management is a factor that determines whether farmers production level increases or not since conflict is an inevitable phenomenon in the society. Oke-Ogun areas have been witnessing several violent conflicts of which farm settlements, properties and lives were destroyed. Quest for empirical data concerning effect of conflict management by farmers in the area necessitate this research. Study Design: Structured interview guide was used to elicit information from 120 respondents each from core conflict (CCA) and outside conflict areas (OCA). Place and Duration of Study: The study area Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State was chosen given its prevalent conflict occurrences. Study duration 2 years. Methodology: Using simple random sampling techniques respondents were sampled from four blocks as stratified by the Oyo State ADP. Data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentage and t-test analyses. Results: The result showed that 72.65% of the farmers in (CCA) and OCA (69.22%) were in the age category of 18-45 years. Farming was the main livelihood of respondents in CCA (83.76%) and OCA (77.88%). Prominent reason adduced for conflict by farmers is competition for natural resources (86.42%). Farmers in CCA recorded lower mean production level for maize 62.25 tones, yam 1152 tones and cassava 1232 tones as oppose to higher mean production level recorded for maize 310.5 tones, yam 3505 tones and cassava 11,185.6 tones OCA. Result of the t-test showed a significant difference in crops production level between CCA and OCA at p<0.05. Conclusion: The study therefore concluded that conflict management employed by farmers had negative influence on farmers production level. It is recommended that farmers should avail themselves of training opportunities on conflict management and resolution in order to ensure peaceful co-existence among themselves which is a factor for increase in production.