Strategies for Coping with Food Insecurity during Flood Disaster among Farm Families in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The survey was conducted to identify strategies for coping with food insecurity during flood disaster among farm families in Benue State, Nigeria. Data were collected from a sample of 145 respondents through the use of a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and mean score were used for data analysis. Results showed that majority (65.0%) of the respondents were male, middle aged, having large household size with a long period of farming experience. Findings also showed that age ( =2.30), household size ( =2.26), marital status ( =2.15), credit facilities ( =2.12), storage facilities ( =2.10), agricultural diversification ( =2.00), educational status ( =2.00), household income ( =2.00), productive resources ( =1.66), farm size ( =1.55), sex ( =1.54) were perceived by the respondents as major factors influencing food security status. Strategies for coping with food insecurity during flood disaster as indicated by the respondents were engaging in non-farm activities ( =2.52), engaging in off-farm activities ( =2.50), skipping meals ( = 2.46), engaging in casual labour ( =2.40), reducing the quantity of consumption per meal/day ( =2.00), getting food aid from government/ NGOs ( =2.00), seasonal migration for wage work ( =2.00), obtaining support from relatives and friends ( =2.00), etc. The study recommends that stakeholders in disaster management such as the government, extension agencies, research institutions, metrological institutes, disaster management agencies, higher institutions and local farmers should disseminate firsthand information on weather forecast so as to enable the farm families to know the right and best time to plant and harvest crops in order to cope with flood disaster. It also emphasized the need for public awareness campaign to be intensified to educate the farm families on the dangers associated with flood and the need to live in flood prone areas as well as proper management of drainage channels.