Nomadic Fulani herdsmen have over the years been accused of destroying farmlands and at times killing the farmers of Agogo in Ghana. There are minor clashes of this sort in various communities across the country where Nomadic Fulani Herdsmen and their herds are present. Not only in Ghana. Nigeria is experiencing similar clashes between the nomadic Fulani Herdsmen and other farmers and villagers. Reports say over 1,400 people have died from these conflicts in Nigeria. In West and Central Africa, herdsmen violence is becoming worse by the day.
The cause of conflicts with crop farmers
The cause of the present problem is certainly the unrestricted grazing of cattle. This has been the way In Ghana like many other developing countries. Cattle roam and graze freely destroying farms and farmlands. Their activities also pollute drinking water sources in many areas across the country.
The problem of the nomadic Fulani Herdsmen
The nomadic Fulani Herdsmen also complain of not enough pasture lands. Pasture lands are gradually becoming narrow due to the expanding population and developments. The herdsmen resort to the farmlands and their water sources for the survival of their cattle herd. We also believe, in some situations, that these nomadic Fulani Herdsmen are conservative, reluctant to change their nomadic way of life.
Interventions in the clashes so far
This calls for more sustainable and productive production systems which will make sure the two aspects of agriculture and food production are rather enhanced.
Governments have employed security measures to stop these bloody clashes between the herdsmen and the farmers of the various farming communities. This approach is only ad-hoc and does not even guarantee the conflicts stopping immediately. Even sometimes may cause more casualties.
This is obviously not the best solution.
What are the agricultural solutions?
The balance of crops and livestock productions is very vital to agricultural sustainability. However, it is becoming obviously incompatible to practice open grazing while maintaining crops production and other natural resources like water and the forest.
Read also: Paddock Grazing System: A Solution to Cattle Production in Africa
What, in your view, is the best agricultural approach to ending the conflicts?
References:
- Clashes Over Grazing Land In Nigeria Threaten Nomadic Herding
- The Fulani Menace in Ghana: Real causes and solutions
- West Africa Security Threatened by Growing Herdsmen Militancy
