Abstract

The competition for resources between pastoralist and crop-farmers has lead to conflicts of various dimensions in recent times in Nigeria. This study thus examined the perception of interpersonal relationship between pastoralists and farmers in Ondo state. Respondents were selected through purposive sampling of communities located along grazing routes. Sixty farmers and 30 pastoralists were randomly selected for the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test) were used to analyse the data. Results reveal that majority (91.7%) of farmers were male and all (100.0%) pastoralists were male. They were mostly married (91.7% and 93.3% farmers and pastoralists, respectively). Mean age was 58.5 years for farmers and 40.5 years for pastoralists. Occupational experience was 32.5 years for farmers and 20 years for pastoralists. All pastoralists were Muslims while majority (96.7%) of farmers were Christians. Majority (66.7%) of pastoralists had Islamic/Arabic education while most (53.4%) farmers had primary education and above. Destruction of crops was the major cause of conflict as reported by 86.7% of farmers and 53.3% of pastoralists. Pooled mean perception of the relationship between the two groups revealed an unfavourable perception (x? =32.6). T-test revealed no significant difference in the perceptions of their relationships (t=0.13, p>0.05). This implies that both parties agree in their perception of an unfavourable relationship. Heads of the farmers and pastoralist were the major peace brokers in the communities. Regulations on pastoral activities should be put in place by the government.

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