Conflicts, crop choice, and agricultural investments

Empirical evidence from Nigeria

Bibliographic Data

ID11461925
AuthorsMulubrhan Amare (0000-0002-3310-3140, International Food Policy Research Institute, corresponding author), Kibrom A Abay (0000-0003-1451-2421, International Food Policy Research Institute), Guush Berhane (0000-0002-6306-2415, International Food Policy Research Institute), Kwaw S Andam (Nigerian Institute of International Affairs), Dolapo Adeyanju (0000-0002-7035-4424, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs)
Year2025
Volume148
Pages107391
Publication date2025-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLand Use Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0264-8377 • E-ISSN: 1873-5754
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.landusepol.2024.107391
OpenAlexW4403679992
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited41

Conflict remains a major driver of poverty in Africa. Conflicts and political instability in the region have been increasing recently and are drawing more attention in public discourse. While it is widely acknowledged that conflicts disrupt agricultural production and food systems, the full extent of the damage inflicted on the lives and livelihoods of farming households and the mechanisms to redress this harm remain poorly understood. In particular, the link between violent conflicts and households’ land allocation and related agricultural investment decisions remains understudied. In this study, we use geocoded longitudinal data along with detailed agricultural panel household surveys in Nigeria to assess the impact of violent conflicts on crop choice decisions and related agricultural investments. Specifically, we explore how farmers’ land allocation and agricultural investment decisions relate or respond to the outbreak and intensity of violent conflicts. We find that violent conflicts are associated with a reduction in the share of both land area cultivated and area harvested. We also find suggestive evidence that violent conflicts may shape farmers’ crop choices and related investments, as violent conflicts are associated with reduction in the share of land allocated to long-term crops (e.g., perennial crops, trees, roots and tubers). Overall, our findings suggest that violent conflicts can negatively influence farmers’ agricultural investments directly by affecting both land utilization patterns and portfolio allocation across activities with varying returns to investments. • The link between conflicts and farmers’ agricultural investment decisions remains understudied. • The paper adds to the limited assessments of how conflict affects smallholders’ agricultural investment decisions. • We use geocoded longitudinal data along with panel household surveys. • Conflict shapes farmers’ crop choices and negatively influences agricultural investments. • Female-headed households often opt to reduce their investment in long-term crops in response to exposure to conflict

Agricultural economics · Agriculture · Agroforestry · Business · Crop · Economics · Empirical evidence · Geography · Natural resource economics · Agricultural risk and resilience · Economic Growth and Development · Environmental Science · Natural Resources and Economic Development · Forestry

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