Assessment of the Flood Disasters’ Effects on Farmers Livelihood in Imo State, Nigeria
Egwuonwu, Helen Adeola
Abstract
This study assessed flood disaster effects on farmers livelihood in Imo State, Nigeria. A multi- stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of one-hundred and forty-four (144) farmers for the study. Primary data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistical tool was used in analyzing data for the study. The result reveals that all the farmers (100.0%) in the area were aware of flood disasters. Sources of awareness of flood disaster were radio (98.61%), social gathering (94.44%), cooperative group (86.81%) and newspaper (64.58%). Also, farmers identified crop farming (98.61%), livestock farming (96.53%), fishing (92.36%), and hunting (90.28%) as one of their major livelihood activities. The farmers perceived causes of flood disaster in the area were deforestation (x? = 3.35), poor or no drainage system (x? = 3.23), heavy rainfall (x? = 3.60) and construction activities (x? = 3.33). Perceived effects of flood disaster on livelihood activities of farmers in the area were pollution of drinking water sources (x? = 3.60), loss of lives and properties (x? = 3.58), increase in household food insecurity and poverty (x? = 3.48), exposure to environmental health hazards (x? = 3.47), long distance between farm and market/workplace (x? = 3.46), renders rural dwellers homeless (x? = 3.44), destruction of farmlands (x? = 3.31), destruction of crops and livestock (x? = 3.31) and blockage of road networks (x? = 3.23). However, inadequate flood adaptation fund (99.31%), poor access to farmland (97.22%), poor extension contacts (94.44%), poor knowledge of flood checking processes (90.28%), poor government support (90.28%), high cost of flood checking method (84.72%), poor access to information (82.64%), high cost of labour in flood control (79.08%) and unpatriotic attitude of most households (77.08%) were identified by the farmers as major barriers they faced in coping with the menace of f
Keywords
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