Author: Luke Amadi, George Anokwuru

Abstract: The problemsof herdsmen and rural farmers’ conflict took critical dimensions in recent times suggestive of the vulnerability of the farmers as the conflicts persisted and decanted into palpable security threats in some parts of Nigeria. This paper explores the linkages between herdsmen and rural farmers’ conflict and in particular, provides some useful insights on the vulnerability of the farmers and need for policy response on agricultural resilience. The study builds on the human security framework and relevant secondary data to review two case scenarios in the Middle Belt and Eastern Nigeria. The case analyses which are most recent and incendiary reveal that these conflicts have divergent implications that may contribute to fatal outcomes including decline in rural agricultural practices , food shortage and loss of human lives. The paper suggests that agricultural resilience strategies are critical to mitigate the conflicts. It made some policy recommendations.

Keywords: Security, Vulnerability, Agricultural Resilience, Conflict ,Herdsmen.