EFFECT OF CONFLICTS ON THE LIVELIHOOD ACTIVITIES OF RURAL DWELLERS IN OWO FOREST RESERVE OF ONDO STATE

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of conflicts on rural livelihood in Owo forest reserve of Ondo state. One hundred and twenty (120) respondents were selected from six communities in Owo forest reserve of Owo local government area of Ondo state using purposive sampling and simple random sampling technique. The relationship between personal characteristics such as age, marital status, religion etc and livelihood activities were determined using chi-square. Also relationship between perception of conflict and the effect of livelihood activities were also determined using PPMC as well as the relationship between causes of conflict and livelihood activities. T-test was used to determine the significant difference between, before and after conflict livelihood activities in the local government. From the study, 65.8% of the respondents were married, 55.8% were female, and 59.5% were Christians. The study showed that 69.2% had farming as their major source of income. The study showed that 59.2% had trading as their other income generating activity, 68.3% were non-indigenes, all the respondents (100%) had experienced conflict in the study area and 69.2% agreed that the major type of conflict is for resource control. A significant relationship existed between Sex (x2=16.153, P=0.003), Religion (x2=16.153, P=0.003) Educational level (x2=18.569, P=0.002) and indigene/non indigene (x2=10.050, P=0.018). Marital status (x2=3.896, P=0.273) and sources of income (x2=5.930, P=0.204) showed non-significant relationship. The correlation (r =0.173, p=0.059) between perception of conflict and livelihood activities was not significant. There existed a significant relationship between causes of conflict (r=0.443, P=0.000) and livelihood activities. Also the test of difference (t=0.768, p=0.000) between rural dwellers before and after conflict livelihood activities. Conflict had negative effect on livelihood and the battle for resources was the major cause of conflict. It was also concluded that conflict can be resolved amicably by the ...