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dc.contributor.authorAgyemang, Emmanuel
dc.date.accessioned2017-10-12T13:03:24Z
dc.date.available2017-10-12T13:03:24Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11250/2459940
dc.descriptionMaster's thesis Global development and planning UT505 - University of Agder 2017nb_NO
dc.description.abstractViolent conflicts, particularly farmer-herder conflicts have, for a long time, been a common feature of economic livelihood in West Africa (Bleach, 2004). This thesis explores the causes and the effects of farmer-Fulani herdsmen conflict, and the mitigation responses towards the conflict. The resource scarcity, eco-survivalism and social capital theories (Hommer-Dixon, 1999; Okoli, 2013; Bourdieu, 1986) serve as the main theoretical point of discussion for this study. Using Agogo in Ghana as a case study, the study empirically examines the reasons behind the movement of the Fulani herdsmen to Agogo, the causes of the conflict relationship between the farmers and the herdsmen, and the consequences of such relationship. The study also assesses local community and national level responses towards the conflict. Based on a qualitative research strategy; semi-structured interviews and FGDs responses, observational notes as well as various documents were analysed to shed light on the various themes raised. The study finds that the prevalence of Fulani herdsmen in Agogo is because of the presence of ‘special’ pasture, availability of land for leasing, support from influential people, availability of water, absence of tsetse fly (glossina) and market opportunity. Further, the causes of the conflict relationship between the farmers and the Fulani herdsmen were the destruction of farms and crops, shooting and killing of innocent people, threat and intimidation, rape and sexual harassment, bush burning, water pollution, armed robbery by the nomads, spraying of weeds with weedicides, cattle rustling and killing. Even though the two groups are at the forefront of the conflict, there are many actors involved with competing interests. Consequently, the conflict has generated humanitarian, economic, social, security and natural effects on the socioeconomic development of the community. Finally, the study identified the “Operation Cowleg” as the local community and national level response in dealing with the conflict. However, the policy is not sustainable because; most of the cattle are owned by influential Ghanaians with competing interest in the cattle business in Agogo, issues of bribery and corruption in the operation, as well as the ECOWAS protocol. Based on the findings, the study recommends the following short, medium and long terms solutions; dialogue and settlement committee, creation of buffer zone, socialisation and integration, distribution and relocation, ranching system, proper land arrangement. Keywords: resource scarcity, conflict, “Operation Cowleg”, social capital, eco-survivalismnb_NO
dc.language.isoengnb_NO
dc.publisherUniversitetet i Agder ; University of Agdernb_NO
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internasjonal*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.no*
dc.subjectUT505nb_NO
dc.subjectresource scarcitynb_NO
dc.subjectconflictnb_NO
dc.subject“Operation Cowleg”nb_NO
dc.subjectsocial capitalnb_NO
dc.subjecteco-survivalismnb_NO
dc.titleFarmer-Herder Conflict in Africa: An Assessment of the Causes and Effects of the Sedentary Farmers-Fulani Herdsmen Conflict : A Case Study of the Agogo Traditional Area, Ashanti Region of Ghananb_NO
dc.typeMaster thesisnb_NO
dc.subject.nsiVDP::Samfunnsvitenskap: 200::Sosiologi: 220nb_NO
dc.source.pagenumberXII, 188 p.nb_NO


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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internasjonal
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