Abstract

The paper examines the implementation of a ranching strategy in addressing farmer-herder conflicts in the Kwahu Afram Plains of Ghana from the perspectives of nomadic herders. Current discussions in Ghana have advocated cattle ranching as a means of confining the movement of cattle to prevent violent confrontations between farmers and herders. This strategy has been hailed by the government, local administration, and farmers. However, nomadic herders hold a contrary view. The study adopted the qualitative approach with the snowball sampling method to select participants for the research. The findings of the study reveal that ranching in its current form of implementation is counterproductive to nomadic herders in resolving farmer-herder conflicts. The paper suggests that the full utilisation of the cattle ranch requires the full participation of nomadic herders in the policy planning and implementation as well as the incorporation of their views on ranch management. This will ensure a peaceful coexistence between farmers and nomadic herders in the Kwahu Afram Plains area.

Keywords: Cattle, Ranching, Farmer, Herder, Conflict, Perspective, Ghana