The politics of farmer–herder conflicts and alternative conflict management in Northwest Cameroon. Issue 4 (1st October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mbih, Richard Achia
• Is Part Of: African geographical review. Volume 39:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 324
• Page End: 344
• Publication Date: 2020-10-01
• Subjects: Farmer–herder conflicts -- alternative conflict management -- Northwest Cameroon -- agro-pastoral resources -- indigenous agroecological knowledge -- sustainable agro-pastoral development; Africa -- Geography -- Periodicals; Africa -- Description and travel -- Periodicals; 916.005
• DOI: 10.1080/19376812.2020.1720755
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1937-6812

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the history and political economy of farmer-herder conflicts using field surveys to advance the theoretical understanding of the linkages between agro-pastoralism and farmer-herder conflicts in Northwest Cameroon (NWC). Although the political ecological factors of environmental change and irrational land use policies seem to be the main drivers of farmer-herder conflicts, economic interests of the colonial and postcolonial administrations of Cameroon greatly contributed to the rise and persistence of farmer-herder conflicts in NWC. Using expert and indigenous agro-ecological knowledge, this study identified alternative farmer-herder conflict management strategies, providing a platform for sustainable agro-pastoral development.