Effects of Flood on Crop Farmers in Riverine area in Niger State. Nigeria

Abstract

The research examined the effects of flood on crop farmers in Niger State, Nigeria, ascertain the frequency of occurrence of floods; determine the effects of floods on the livelihood of rural farmers; identify the strategies/measures adopted by farmers in cushioning the effects of floods; identify the constraints faced by the rural farmers in adopting the control measures of floods along riverine area. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from 426 respondents drawn from Niger State. Data were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics, perception index and ordinary least square. The result reveals that farmers mean age were (𝑋̅ = 42 years), 89.5% were male, 83% married, 62% had had household size of1- 10 person, 71.37% had formal education, annual mean income of 888,666.72 95.7%. Majority 94.84% had river over flood as major source of flooding and 50% had it once in year. New farming methods rank 1st in terms control measures followed by early planting. Risk of been drown is the major constraints which ranked 1st . It was concluded that flood occur mostly once in a year and the farmers had low livelihood status. Occurrence of floods had effects on the livelihood of farmers, the major flood control measures employed by the farmers were early planting, new farming practices. It was recommended that farmers should adhere strictly to early warning climatic indices. Crops resistance varieties. Key words: Flood, Livelihood,