Spatial Typology and Cause-effect Analysis of Recurrent Agro-pastoral Conflicts in Menchum, North West Cameroon
- June 28, 2019
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: Social Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue VI, June 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186
Fabian C. Ntangti1, Evaristus T. Angwafo1, Augustine T. Gam2, Reeves M. Fokeng2*
1Department of Agricultural Extension & Rural Sociology, Faculty of Agronomy & Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon
2Department of Geography & Planning, Faculty of Arts, University of Bamenda, Cameroon
*Corresponding author
Abstract: – Livestock keeping and crop cultivation are amongst the activities that sustain the lives of the majority of rural people. Wide across, the two systems have never been in harmony. Farming groups and herdsmen in the North West Region in general and Menchum Division in particular have been drawn into schism of varied nature which have weakened and paralysed the socio-economic, political and cultural livelihoods in the rural world. This paper attempts to spatialise the typology of recurrent agro-pastoral conflicts in Menchum. Field visits, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) alongside the administration of 400 semi-structured questionnaires aided to collect the required data. The results revealed that agro-pastoral conflict typology in Menchum Division takes the form of farmer-grazier (71.9%), farmer-farmer (16.6%), and grazier-grazier (11.5%). A cartographic visualisation and representation of the most recurrent land use conflict (farmer-grazier conflicts) within the four subdivisions of Menchum for the period covering 1990 to 2017 revealed that Fungum and Wum Subdivisions occupied the top positions(187 and 127) cases recorded respectively. The main drivers of conflicts as identified were; no clear demarcation of farm and grazing lands, conflicting administrative decisions with successive administrators, stray cattle and teenage herdsmen, rising human and cattle population and pressure on land resources, and frequent farmer-grazier barbarism. The cause-effect analyses of this recurrent conflict revealed increasing threats on food security linked to crop damage and loss of animal and human lives, retardnes of economic activities, loss of mutual understanding, intimidation and mistrust. There is however increasing tendencies towards harmony of the two agricultural systems within the study area though much is still left to be done as conflicts of farmer-grazier origin remains unabated in some parts of the zone.
Keywords: Agro-pastoral conflicts, Conflict typology, Land use clashes, Resource interest, Menchum
