THE ECONOMIC COST OF TRANSHUMANCE–CROP FARMERS' CONFLICTS IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA (2020–2025)

Transhumance–crop farmers’ conflicts have become a significant threat to agricultural production, rural livelihoods and food security in Plateau State, Nigeria. These conflicts arise from competing land-use interests, crop destruction, livestock movement, insecurity and unresolved grievances, with consequences extending beyond immediate physical damage to long-term economic losses. This article examines the economic costs of these conflicts between 2020 and 2025, focusing on agricultural production, livestock assets, household income, displacement, market activities and public expenditure. The study adopts a qualitative descriptive research design based on secondary data obtained from peer-reviewed journal articles, official reports and relevant institutional publications. The analysis is guided by a political economy perspective, which explains how unequal access to productive resources, institutional weaknesses and competition over livelihoods shape conflict and its economic consequences. Existing evidence indicates that conflict-related risks discourage investment in agricultural inputs and land cultivation, disrupt farming activities and increase the vulnerability of rural households. Studies specific to Plateau State also document the socioeconomic consequences of farmer–herder conflict, while displacement reports from 2025 illustrate the continuing humanitarian and livelihood pressures affecting rural communities. However, a comprehensive monetary estimate of the total economic losses attributable exclusively to these conflicts in Plateau State during 2020–2025 is not available in the reviewed evidence. The article therefore distinguishes documented incidents and empirical findings from inferred economic costs. It argues that sustainable conflict management requires improved land-use governance, effective early-warning mechanisms, accessible compensation arrangements, livestock-management reforms and inclusive community-based peacebuilding. The study contributes to the literature by presenting an integrated framework for understanding and measuring the direct, indirect and longer-term economic costs of transhumance–crop farmers’ conflicts in Plateau State.