Climate change and food security in Nigeria, a case study of the herders- farmers crisis

Abstract

Using qualitative and thematic approaches, this study examined the effect of climate change on food security in Nigeria. The research specifically sought to find out the influence of climate change and farmers-herders crisis on food security proxied by crop and livestock production and examined whether climate change is the major cause of the intense crisis between farmers and herders experienced recently in Nigeria. The study also proffered the possible solutions that will help mitigate the effect of climate change in Nigeria. The study is anchored on the conflict theory. Findings of the study showed that climate change throughout the study negatively and significantly influenced food security in Nigeria. While the farmers-herders crisis negatively influenced crop production, its influence remained insignificant in both short-run and long-run. Farmers-herders crisis negatively influenced livestock production as found in this study. Finally, climate change and farmers-herders crisis cause food security in Nigeria. The study recommends that climate change mitigation strategies such as the encouragement of afforestation, reduction of bush burning and utilization of fuels/gases that have high global warming efficacies, and the practice of climate-friendly agriculture should be implemented and monitored by the government. Also, the provision and utilization of improved crops and animals that can resist the negative effects of climate change on crop and animal production is highly recommended. Furthermore, grazing farmlands for herders should be considered and appropriate measures taken to ranch cattle since the farmers-herders crisis favors livestock production at the expense of crop production in Nigeria.