Designing a Conflict Resolution Mechanism for Agricultural Cooperative Societies in Adamawa State

Unresolved conflicts within agricultural cooperative societies can paralyse operations, cause financial loss, and drive member attrition, particularly in contexts like Adamawa State where inter-ethnic and resource-based tensions may exacerbate internal cooperative disputes. This study designed a practical conflict resolution mechanism for agricultural cooperative societies in Adamawa State, North East Nigeria. A mechanism design methodology combining conflict landscape assessment, best practice review, and participatory co-design was employed. The conflict assessment involved structured interviews with 35 cooperative leaders and 20 state cooperative officers in Yola North, Numan, and Song LGAs, identifying the most common conflict types, existing resolution practices, and mechanism preferences. Best practice review examined conflict resolution models from cooperative sectors in Rwanda, South Africa, and Kenya, adapted for the Adamawa agro-pastoral context. The co-designed mechanism encompasses three resolution tiers: internal resolution by the cooperative management committee, community-level mediation involving respected community leaders, and formal state cooperative department adjudication. The mechanism includes a conflict intake form, investigation procedures, time-bound resolution standards, and record-keeping requirements. Cultural sensitivity provisions specific to Fulani-farming community dynamics are embedded in the mediation guidelines. The mechanism was validated through two-round expert review by fourteen cooperative management and conflict resolution specialists, achieving 88.6 percent consensus. The study recommends formal adoption of the mechanism by the Adamawa State Cooperative Department as a standard operating procedure for all registered agricultural cooperatives.

Keywords: conflict resolution mechanism, agricultural cooperatives, Adamawa State, cooperative disputes, North East Nigeria