Abstract

Flood is a tropical climate change challenge in Nigeria. Its occurrence is always associated with heavy loss of life and property, misery, hardship, disease and at times famine. This study specifically examined socio-economic predicaments of flood affected households, factors predisposing farmers and their livelihood to flood and mitigation practices adopted in the Niger basins of Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 120 respondents with the use of questionnaire. About 389.6 hectares were affected by flood constituting 92.08% of the total farm area. About 446150 kg (N 35, 692, 000) of rice were lost to the flood accounting for 94.83% of the total loss, while maize of about 22800 kg (N 1, 368, 000) and sorghum of about 1500 kg (N 90, 000) were also lost to the flood accounting for 4.85 and 0.32% of the total loss, respectively. Factors such as farmland proximity to river, lack of levee/dyke along the river channel, lack of insurance on flood, inadequate access to flood resistant crop varieties, inadequate assistance from the Government and other financial institutions predisposed respondents to flooding. Furrow channeling and use of cement blocks were the most adopted flood mitigation practices in the study area, while the use of sandbags, woods and heavy grasses were adopted. Study, therefore, calls for government and the private sectors participation in construction of embankments and complete dredging of the river as well as provision of flood resistant crop varieties, loans and enlightenment of farmers on insuring their properties.