Rural Farmers'Perception of Conflicts as a Cause of Hunger and Malnutrition among Farm Households in Southeast, Nigeria

The study analyzed conflicts as a cause of hunger and malnutrition among farming households in South east, Nigeria. A 4-stage sampling technique was used in selecting 300 respondents from 3 conflict affected states in South east, Nigeria. Mean and standard deviation were used in analyzing data collected. Results showed that the causes of conflicts in the area were numerous based on the actors involved and the use of natural resources especially land. They included delay in resolving land issued with a high mean response of (M= 2.55), tenure/right issues (M = 2. 05), scarcity of land (M= 2.86), insecurity of tenure (M = 2.75) among others. Conflicts on the other hand cause hunger through the disruption of food production system ( M= 4 0.1), reduction in amount or quantity of available food ( M= 3.42), disruption of households livelihood assets/income (M = 3.58), insufficient intakes of protein food ( M = 2. 97), migration of labour ( M = 2.79) among over issues. To reduce hunger & malnutrition, poor people’s access to productive assets/resource be improved and pursued via a policy framework. Credit facilities, better seeds, extension services, better seeds, extension services and farm enterprise diversification to pursued and encouraged.

Keywords: Conflict, hunger, farming, malnutrition, households.