Conflict between sedentary farmers and nomadic cattle herders in the country has become the â€˜gravest security challengeâ€™ facing Nigeria. This study aims to identify suitable areas for herder resettlement in Jigawa and Niger States. Key objectives include spatio-temporal analysis of grazing land use, assessment of nomadic livelihoods, and conducting a land inventory for identifying appropriate settlement areas for herders. Satellite images from Landsat ETM+ (2000) and Landsat 8 (2020) were the primary data sources. Both unsupervised and supervised classification methods were used for image classification, resulting in six land use categories. Focus group discussions gathered information on Fulani herdersâ€™ economic and social life, livestock, and crop farming practices. Experienced farmers who transitioned from nomadism were also interviewed to gather detailed crop farming data. The finding revealed that Fulani are nomads but willing to adopt new cattle-rearing methods if their livestockâ€™s feed is ensured. The Fulani youths are open to alternative economic activities, including farming. While nomadic, they settle for extended periods in areas with sufficient animal feed and engage in small-scale crop farming. Crops include cowpea, maize, onions, peanuts, potatoes, and vegetables, primarily grown for subsistence. Settled Fulani, who have ceased migration, engage in both cash crops and subsistence farming. They practice mixed cropping with crops like cassava, millet, onions, sorghum, rice, and yams. Intercropping and rain-fed agriculture are prevalent, with irrigation farming mostly limited to floodplains. Environmental impact was analyzed, showing that certain crops, like cowpea, have better nutrient and water-use efficiency, while crops such as rice and maize require more chemical inputs. In 2020, 84.48% of Jigawaâ€™s land was allocated to crop farming, with little remaining land suitable for herder settlement. Therefore, Niger State, a larger region with abundant water resources and diverse land cover, was identified as a potential alternative for developing herder settlements. Its extensive grassland, mixed vegetation, and proximity to rivers and reservoirs make it ideal for supporting year-round livestock grazing and irrigation-based agriculture. This study concludes that while Jigawa State is now predominantly used for crop farming, Niger State offers significant potential for developing sustainable herder settlements

Mustapha, Dr. Aliyu; Dada, Ibilewa; Aminu, Mansir; Chedi, Isa Yunusa

Conflict between sedentary farmers and nomadic cattle herders in the country has become the â€˜gravest security challengeâ€™ facing Nigeria. This study aims to identify suitable areas for herder resettlement in Jigawa and Niger States. Key objectives include spatio-temporal analysis of grazing land use, assessment of nomadic livelihoods, and conducting a land inventory for identifying appropriate settlement areas for herders. Satellite images from Landsat ETM+ (2000) and Landsat 8 (2020) were the primary data sources. Both unsupervised and supervised classification methods were used for image classification, resulting in six land use categories. Focus group discussions gathered information on Fulani herdersâ€™ economic and social life, livestock, and crop farming practices. Experienced farmers who transitioned from nomadism were also interviewed to gather detailed crop farming data. The finding revealed that Fulani are nomads but willing to adopt new cattle-rearing methods if their livestockâ€™s feed is ensured. The Fulani youths are open to alternative economic activities, including farming. While nomadic, they settle for extended periods in areas with sufficient animal feed and engage in small-scale crop farming. Crops include cowpea, maize, onions, peanuts, potatoes, and vegetables, primarily grown for subsistence. Settled Fulani, who have ceased migration, engage in both cash crops and subsistence farming. They practice mixed cropping with crops like cassava, millet, onions, sorghum, rice, and yams. Intercropping and rain-fed agriculture are prevalent, with irrigation farming mostly limited to floodplains. Environmental impact was analyzed, showing that certain crops, like cowpea, have better nutrient and water-use efficiency, while crops such as rice and maize require more chemical inputs. In 2020, 84.48% of Jigawaâ€™s land was allocated to crop farming, with little remaining land suitable for herder settlement. Therefore, Niger State, a larger region with abundant water resources and diverse land cover, was identified as a potential alternative for developing herder settlements. Its extensive grassland, mixed vegetation, and proximity to rivers and reservoirs make it ideal for supporting year-round livestock grazing and irrigation-based agriculture. This study concludes that while Jigawa State is now predominantly used for crop farming, Niger State offers significant potential for developing sustainable herder settlements

Dr. Aliyu Mustapha, Ibilewa Dada, Mansir Aminu and Isa Yunusa Chedi
Additional contact information
Dr. Aliyu Mustapha: National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja Nigeria
Ibilewa Dada: National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja Nigeria
Mansir Aminu: National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja Nigeria
Isa Yunusa Chedi: National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, Abuja, Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science, 2024, vol. 9, issue 11, 434-444

Date: 2024
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