ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF FLOODING ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Disaster has been on the increase over the years, resulting in loss of life, damage to property and destruction of the environment. The number of people at risk has been growing each year and the majorities are in developing countries with high poverty levels making them more vulnerable to disasters (Adeola, 2016).

Halidu (2015) reveals poverty which is a causal factor of disaster have made many people become more vulnerable because they live in hazardous areas including flood plains and steep hills. They have fewer resources which makes them more susceptible to disasters .They are less likely to receive timely warnings. Furthermore, even if warnings were issued, they have fewer options for reducing losses in a timely manner. The poverty level affects the resilience and process of recovery from disasters. Disaster mitigation, preparedness and prevention needs to address socio-economic issues not only geological and meteorological aspects (Dickson, 2017).

Major effects arise mainly from inundation and erosion and may include the isolation of communities or areas and involve the need for large scale evacuation. The Third World Water Forum: Poverty and Floods held in March, 2003 indicated that in recent years ,floods had become more frequent and of increasing severity resulting into loss of life, injury, homelessness, damage to infrastructure and environment as well as impacting on other critical sectors such as education and agriculture (Rudolf, 2017).Therefore, this study assesses the effect of flooding on agricultural production in Numan Local Government Area.

1.2 Statement of the problem

This study assesses the impact of flooding on agricultural production in Numan Local Government Area in Adamawa State. The study area is in a low-lying, severely flood prone area (wetlands) (Halidu, 2015). The population along the river has grown over the years. More than 8,000 people live in this area. Almost three quarters of the land is used for crop production, mainly maize and vegetable gardening. Other crops grown include sorghum, millet, groundnuts, beans and sweet potatoes. Some livestock farming is also present and fishing is practiced (Rudolf, 2017).

The area has suffered floods for three (3) consecutive rainfall seasons namely; 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08.The 2007/08 season has been described by the community as the worst in terms of the amount of rainfall received and level of impact. The floods caused displacement of people from their usual dwelling places resulting into varying impacts on infrastructure, crops, health, education, environment as well as damage to property (NEMA Report, 2016).

1.3 Aim and Objectives

The aim of this study is to assess the Impacts of flooding on agricultural production in Numan Local Government Area and the specific objectives of the study are as follows:

1.To assess the impact which floods have on the socio-economic livelihoods of the people.

2.To identify vulnerable groups that are most affected by floods including gender considerations.

3.To identify coping strategies employed by the community during floods and strengthen positive coping strategies.

1.4 Research Questions

This case study therefore endeavored to answer the following questions:

1.What is the socio economic status of the respondents of the community?

2.What are the Impacts of flooding on agriculture in the study area?

3.Who are the most vulnerable group in the study area and what are the coping strategies?

1.5 Scope and Delimitation

  The scope of this research work is the factors causing flooding and the effects of flooding on agricultural activities. The study is delimited to some communities in Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study is important because it assesses and estimates the effects of the floods on the communitys socio-economic livelihoods. The study also endeavours to establish the underlying causes of vulnerability of people in Numan community. 

More importantly, it is envisaged that the outputs of the study will be key inputs in the designing of sustainable mitigation measures to minimize the impact of floods and the associated risks. 

The study explores the impact of floods on the socio-economic livelihoods of people in Numan community in Adamawa State. The aim of this study is to provide a thorough understanding of the impact of floods on the socio-economic livelihoods and underlying causes of the communitys vulnerability. The contribution of the research should compel other stakeholders to undertake further research in issues that may arise in this study and need further inquiry.

1.7 Study Area

1.7.1 Location and Extent

Numan, also known as, Nomweh (meaning hilltop) is a town and a Local Government Area in Adamawa State, Nigeria. It is a port town that lies on the confluence of Benue River and Gongola River. The predominant ethnic group in the town is the Bwatiye people who have reputation of being unconquered warriors in all their history. The Bwatiye people are led by a First Class King known as the Hama Bachama, who is the paramount ruler of the Bwatiye Kingdom, whose Voti (palace) is in Numan Administrative seat of the throne while Lamurde has another palace for the king as that is the spiritual or ancestral home of the Bwatiye people.

1.7.2 Weather and Climate

The average annual rainfall of Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State is 958.99mm and has a tropical climate marked by wet and dry season with a mean annual of rainfall 1 50 rum (59. 1 in), (Adebayo, 1999). The months of August and September have the highest rainfall distribution with total annual rainfall receipt of 1 10mm. The driest months are January and February with only 23% relative humidity.

The mean annual temperature of Numan is 34.50o C (maximum) and 21 .22°C minimum. The hottest months are March and April when the temperature rises up to 42.78° C, while the coldest months are November and December (Adebayo, 1999). 

1.7.3 Soil and Vegetation

The soil of the study area is derived from basement complex, and most of the soil types are loamy soil suitable for agricultural activities, while few other places are on sandstone shale and alluvium parent materials (Tukur, 2000). The soils are generally richer in weathered minerals and have strongly sorbtive lay minerals of the three layered type. The relatively large, negatively charged surface area. (Tukur. 2000). These types of soil are defined often generally as having a marked differentiating of horizons and an abundance of free iron oxides usually deposited as red, black and yellow mottles or concretion. The major vegetation formations are the Sudan savannah (Adebayo 1999).

          The types of vegetation found on the soil discussed above are mostly grass. Giant blue stem grass and Bristle, foxtail grass (Setania). The important trees are Tanninaila indica (Tsamiya,Tamarine), Vitellaria paradoxa (Kiriya) and Daniela Oliveri (Mage) (Ray, 2006).

1.7.4 Economic Activities

There are various human activities practiced from in the study area. The commonest among them are administrative, commercial, industrial, recreational, residential, Small agricultural and educational. The civil servants that live in the study area range from senior to junior staff with various income earning. Some of these civil servants do engage in commercial activities after closing from office work, such as tailoring, cyclist (keke NAPEP) which is normally done in the evening and weekend days. Others also do some services like repair of electronic operate patient medicine store and handset business. temperature rises up to 42.78° C, while the coldest months are November and December when temperature drops to as low 7 ° C (Adebayo, 1999). 

1.7.5 Soil and Vegetation

The soil of the study area is derived from basement complex, and most of the soil types are loamy soil suitable for agricultural activities, while few other places are on sandstone shale and alluvium parent materials (Tukur, 2000). The soils are generally richer in weathered minerals and have strongly sorbtive clay minerals of the three layered type of the relatively large, negatively charged surface area. (Tukur 2000).

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

The word listed below will be explained to give the reader a clearer understanding to avoid ambiguity. 

Effect: A phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

Flood: A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. 

Agriculture: Agriculture is the systematic raising of useful plants and livestock under the management of man. 

Production: Production is the organised activity of transforming resources into finished products in the form of goods and services.