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Analysis Of Effect Of Flood On Livelihoods And Adaptation Measures Of Smallholder Crop Farmers
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Information
Today,
global climate change is one of humanity’s greatest challenges.
According to the International Resource Group (2008) global warming will
increase within the next fifty (50) years to the detriment of the
world’s population. Weather extremities such as droughts, floods and
cyclones will occur more frequently and forcefully, causing insecure
living conditions, food shortage and forced migration. The current cycle
of rising temperatures is unique. For the first time, the actions of
human beings are responsible for decisively changing a cycle that is
typically a natural phenomenon.
Apart from mitigation, adaption
represents the second insurance strategy to first, protect vulnerable
populations already experiencing adverse effects of climate change and
secondly, protect all people in the future. Therefore, adaptation to
existing climate change is essential for all countries. Political
scientists and the policy-making community have begun to explore
potential consequences of climate change, especially for developing
countries, describing it as a stress factor with the potential to add to
existing development, security and health problems (International
Resource Group, 2008).
Inequality in capacity to adapt to climate
change is emerging as a potential force widening disparities in wealth,
security and opportunities for human development. While developed
countries with adequate resources are in the process of adapting to
climate change, it is the countries in the developing world that are
facing extreme and more immediate burdens and adverse impacts of changes
in global climate. According to research, developing countries in
tropical and subtropical regions will face some of the strongest
negative consequences of climate change, thus primarily and adversely
impacting the most vulnerable people globally (International Resource
Group, 2008).
Flood is unusual accumulation of water. A disaster
might be caused by a natural or man-made phenomenon resulting in a
significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or drastic
change to the environment. It is a terrible occurrence that is capable
of being harmful to life, property, economic and social welfare of
people (Cherdpong and Thiengkamol, 2013). The coastal plains or flood
belt are often more vulnerable to flood disaster in Delta State. With
the advent of climate change phenomenon, the effect of floods has been
devastating in the flood belt of Delta State, Nigeria. The 2012 flood
disaster in some parts of Nigeria, including Delta State is a case
worthy of reference.
The dimensions of the effect of flood can
broadly be grouped into direct and indirect. Social effect of flood may
manifest in the forms of loss of homes, loss of social status, education
of children/wards and psychological trauma of the victims. Other direct
effects are loss of farm income, social infrastructures (schools,
markets, roads, and health facilities), loss of means of livelihood,
loss of farm lands and crops/livestock’s. Indirect effects of flood may
reflect in the form of burden on safe communities in the hinterland and
food shortages, increase in prices of food stuff. Other dimensions of
effects of flood disaster include: food insecurity, poverty,
psychological trauma, loss of human capital, political unrest and a
drain on government budget (Cherdpong and Thiengkamol, 2013).
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This study evaluated the effect of flood on farm families in Delta State. It specifically described the socioeconomic characteristics of smallholder crop farmers in the study area, identified the causes of floods in the study area, evaluated the economic effects of flood hazards on smallholder crop farmers, examined the vulnerability of smallholder crop farmers’ families to floods in the study area and identified adaptive strategies for mitigating the negative effects of floods on smallho ... Continue reading---
