Mitigation Of Farmer - Herder Conflicts In Mbarali District, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

This study sought to capture information on the mitigation of farmer - herder conflicts in two villages, namely Mbuyuni and Uturo in Mbarali District, Tanzania. The study was conducted to achieve the following specific objectives: (i) to evaluate the functions of related institutions and stakeholders towards conflicts resolution and management. (ii) To assess the impacts of land conflicts among the land users and (iii) to suggest alternative strategies and /or mechanisms for mitigating conflicts among the land users. Respondents for the study included farmers, herders, and officials of selected pastoralists and farmers associations, law enforcement agents, staff of organisations concerned with management of common property resources and local leaders. A total of 100 respondents were randomly selected for the study. Primary data on functions of related institutions and stakeholders in conflicts resolution and management, their impacts to the community as well as conflicts resolution mechanism were obtained from the respondents using questionnaire, interview, focused group discussion and participatory resource assessment. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) preceded by data coding to prepare data for easy entry. The study revealed that the major impacts of conflicts between farmers and herders were death of people and livestock, injuries, burning of farms and houses, increased communal grievances. The study portray that in order to mitigate conflicts among the land users, there must be effective implementation of land policy in order to reduce these conflicts. Also it is through the provision of education among the land users that can solve/mitigate the land conflicts in the study villages. The study recommends that the local government authority should involve the traditional and local leaders in finding solutions to farmer- herder conflicts. Moreover, the relevant stakeholders like LGAs and land council should continue providing education among the land users. Furthermore, the government and civil society organizations should collaborate in providing education to the citizens on the various laws so that they will use those policies and laws in using their land wisely.