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Analysis Of Effect Of Flood On Livelihoods And Adaptation Measures Of Smallholder Crop Farmers
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The
overall effect of flood disaster is that it retards and reverses
development. It may hinder productive investment. A key issue for
developing countries including Nigeria is the lack of capacity of
farming households to mitigate flood disaster (Abaje and Giwa, 2007).
The
smallholder farmers that dominate the population of Delta State,
produce small output, with scanty resources, earn low income and low
purchasing power. About 70% of the whole population depends on their
aggregate output. According to Cruz (2010) majority (more than 80%) of
the small holder farmers in the world depend on farming as their primary
source of livelihoods. Three out of every four poor people leave in
rural areas and depend on agriculture, either directly or indirectly for
their livelihood (World Bank, 2008). Consequently, flood hazards on
farming households will have spillover effect on those that depend on
them.
In most parts of the world, and particularly in the developing
countries such as Nigeria, food security and its related issues are
vital welfare issues that occupy central focus in global economic
debates. Attainment of food security is core problem confronting rural
farming households due to low productivity. The changing climate pattern
and its effect on agriculture pose a serious food security and
livelihood challenges to the rural farm families in Delta State,
Nigeria. The United Nations estimate has projected that over the next 20
years the demand for food will increase astronomically. Ash, et al.
(2007) reported that yields from Africa’s rain-fed farm production may
decrease by 50% due to climate change hazards such as flood, by 2020.
Previous
studies demonstrating correlations between flood hazards and poverty
status among vulnerable rural farm families have generated considerable
interest (Meza et al, 2008). The body of literature has accordingly
pursued three main directions with respect to climate hazards and
livelihood status of vulnerable rural farm families:
* close link between flood and farm output (Meinke and Stone, 2005)
* vulnerability of rural communities, which lack economic resources and capacity to mitigate flood hazards, and
* the need for agronomic
and economic models that can capture relevant variables for adaptation policies and practices (Maza, et al, 2008).
Agronomic
and economic models of flood hazards indicate that, over time, adaptive
use of seasonal climate forecast could provide some benefits (Ash, et
al. 2007), especially with respect to vulnerable farmers (Letson et al,
2005). Hansen et al. (2009) demonstrated that high value could be
attained from accurate predictability of flood hazards.
The main
purpose of estimating flood response model is to integrate the relevant
variables in flood hazards management decision making. It is important
to investigate how vulnerable rural farm families and others in the
flood belt make use of flood hazards forecast information in their
livelihood decision making (Roncoli, 2006).
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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---
