Farmer–Herder Crises and Its Implications on Food Security in Sankera, Benue State, Nigeria: An Empirical Mixed-Methods Study

Farmer–herder crises have increasingly disrupted agricultural production and rural livelihoods in parts of Benue State, with important implications for household food security. This study examined the implications of farmer–herder crises for food security among households in Sankera, Benue State, Nigeria, with particular attention to agricultural and livelihood disruption, household food access, and coping and mitigation responses. An empirical mixed-methods design was adopted, integrating quantitative household survey data with qualitative interview evidence. The quantitative component involved 400 respondents proportionately selected from Katsina-Ala (147), Logo (111), and Ukum (142) Local Government Areas. Household food insecurity was assessed using an adapted Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), with households compared according to conflict exposure, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically to explain the quantitative patterns. The findings showed that conflict-exposed households recorded significantly higher HFIAS scores than non-exposed households, indicating poorer food access among households affected by farmer–herder crises. Conflict was also associated with reductions in cultivated farm size and crop yields, declining household income, and disruption of agricultural livelihoods. Displaced households experienced poorer food-security outcomes than their non displaced counterparts, demonstrating the additional vulnerability associated with displacement. Qualitative evidence further indicated that restricted access to farmland, loss of productive assets, reduced agricultural activity, income losses, and difficulties accessing markets and food contributed to household food insecurity. Households responded through livelihood diversification, food conservation, alternative agricultural activities, small-livestock production, and other forms of adaptive coping, while stakeholders identified farmer–herder dialogue, early warning mechanisms, negotiated land-use arrangements, strengthened security, agricultural recovery support, and targeted social protection as important mitigation measures. The studyconcludes that farmer–herder crises undermine food security in Sankera primarily through interconnected disruptions to agricultural production, household income, livelihood assets, and physical access to food. It recommends integrated conflict-prevention and livelihood-recovery interventions, including improved protection of agricultural communities, accessible farmland, agricultural inputs and recovery assistance, functional early-warning and mediation mechanisms, livelihood diversification, and targeted support for displaced and highly vulnerable households.