The Effects of Conflict on Household Agricultural Investment in Nigeria

While the negative effects of conflict on health and education are well established, studies identifying the effects of conflict on household agricultural investment are sparser. I combine a household panel dataset from Nigeria’s Living Standards Measurement Survey - Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) with detailed data on conflict events from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED). Using an event studies framework, these data allow me to estimate the effects of conflict on a variety of household agricultural decisions. I find evidence that conflict involving Fulani pastoralists reduces a household’s cattle holdings in the following season. Additionally, I find evidence that households shifted production to riskier crops in the years prior to experiencing conflict. Finally, I find little evidence that households change their use of inputs such as pesticide and equipment following a conflict