Constraints to Herding and Pastoralists' Awareness of Hydroponics as Alternative for Fodder Production Among Fulani Herders in Ogun State, Nigeria

The persistent conflict between farmers and Fulani herders resulting from land use competition has affected the crop production and livestock industries which are crucial to economic development in Nigeria. This study examined the constraints to herding and pastoralists’ awareness of hydroponics as alternative for fodder production among Fulani herders in Ogun State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was adopted in selecting 86 Fulani pastoralists from Odeda and Abeokuta North Local Government Areas, Ogun State. Data were obtained using interview guide and analyzed descriptively using frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviations. Results revealed that the mean herding experience, farm size, and herd size of the respondents were 41 years, 2 hectares, and 81 cattle respectively. Also, all (100.0%) of the sampled pastoralists reared cattle and cultivated arable crops. Crops cultivated included maize (100.0%), millet (100.0%), pepper (95.3%), sorghum (90.7%), cassava (65.1%), and yam (70.9%). lmost all of the Fulani pastoralists operated on leased farms esults further indicated that scarcity of pasture x and attacks from host crop farmers x were the major constraints faced in herding. Finally, findings revealed that none (0.0%) of the Fulani pastoralists were aware of the use of hydroponics as alternatives for fodder production. The study concluded that the constraints of pasture scarcity would have been minimized (if not completely eradicated) provided that Fulani pastoralists were aware and adopted the use of hydroponics for fodder production. It is therefore recommended that extension agents should raise awareness, and train the Fulani pastoralists on the benefits of using hydroponics for fodder production in Ogun State.