ABSTRACT

This study assessed the effect of flooding on poverty and food security status of arable crop farmers in South-east, Nigeria. Specifically, it described socio-economic characteristics of arable crop farmers; ascertained the flooding incidences; ascertained the locations affected by flooding incidence identified the causes of flooding; ascertained perceived poverty and food security of farmers; determined the poverty status and food security status of farmers before and after the flood incidences; ascertained perceived effect of flooding incidences on arable crop production, and examined different farmers’ coping mechanisms used to minimize effect of flooding and during food shortages/security in the study area. A Multi-stage random sampling procedure was used to select 270 (two hundred and seventy) arable crop farmers (Anambra = 90, Ebonyi=90, Imo = 90). Data were collected with a structured questionnaire, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (multiple, probit regression analyses and Z-test analyses). Result showed that farmers averred that flooding incidence was high with =3.5 flood frequency, =3.6 intensity, =3.5extensity and =4.0 severity. The respondents were food insecure using the food security indices. There was high poverty level for farmers across the States before and after flooding incidence. The pooled result showed about 68.90% and 68.10% of the farmers were food insecure before, while (31.10%) and (31.90%) were secure after the flooding incidence.  Farmers had favourable perception (=3.7) of flooding incidences, high level of usage (=2.6) of coping mechanisms in times of food shortages and security (=2.6). Multiple regression pooled result showed that sex (-1.1651), education status (0.6539), household size (0.1760) and on-farm income (-0.00001) influenced poverty status of arable crop farmers. Probit regression estimates showed that education (0.5212), household size (-0.0931) and on-farm income (0.00008) influenced food security status of farmers. Z-test result revealed that there was no significant difference between poverty status of the farmer before and after flooding incidence at P≤ 0.05. Probit regression estimates showed that flood frequency (-1.885), intensity (-2.267), duration (-4.951) and seasonality (2.864) influenced poverty while flood frequency (-3.602), intensity (-1.711), duration (-4.369), seasonality (2.207) influenced food security.  The study concluded that farmers had high poverty level and were food insecure as a result of flood incidence in the area. It is therefore recommended that the affected households should be encouraged by government and non-governmental organizations via awareness creation on adaptation measures, and also being involved in other income generation activities that can make them to be food secure in case of any such incidence in future. There should be provision of relief materials so as to reduce poverty and increase food security in the area.