Abstract:
The study investigated resource-base needs and land use conflict experienced by rural farmers in communities of Abia State. It also examined their resource needs, causes of conflicts, and conflict resolution strategies adopted by the communities where agricultural land use conflicts have been reported. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 180 farm households. The first stage involves selection of three agricultural zones, Aba, Ohafia and Umuahia and the second stage involves the selection of 1 local government area from each zone and selection of 3 communities using purposive sampling (on experience of land use conflict) and the forth stage involved the purposive selection of 20 farm households who have experienced land use conflict in each of the communities. Data were collected using interview schedule and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and later analyzed with descriptive statistics. The results indicated resource base needs of the respondents as land (26%), water (18%), oil (16%), gas ((18%), fuelwood (22%). Eight causes of conflicts were identified; political and economic support (M = 2.9), increasing land price (M = 3.9), marginalization and exclusion (M = 3.3), unregistered land transaction (M=1.9), unclearly defined plots and village boundaries (M = 3.3), insufficient implementation of regulations (M = 2.7), inheritance (M = 3.0), allocation of poor cultivated plots (M = 2.9), and Non allocation of choice plots (M = 3.2). On land conflicts resolution the result shows that, facilitation with mean score of (M = 3.0), moderation (M =2.85), consultation (M= 2.9), arbitration (M= 3.2), mediation (M = 3.1) and conciliation (M = 2.5) were employed in resolving conflicts among household in the study area. The study therefore concludes that a coordinated system of land dispute resolution bodies has to be established to provide wide range of options for resolution and recommend establishment of traditional values that will create incentives as well as sanctions aiming at positively influencing people's behaviour. |
