AKSU Journal of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development

USE OF COPING STRATEGIES FOR FLOODING AMONG ARABLE CROP FARMERS IN EDU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Author:  Ajoke Oluwatoyin Kayode and Sharafadeen Abiodun Abdulqadir

Abstract
Flooding is becoming increasingly common in developing countries, and the destructive impact on arable crop farming is clearly one of the greatest setbacks in agricultural production. The study assessed the sources of information on coping strategies, the level of usage of coping strategies, the perceived effects of flooding on arable crops, and the challenges to using coping strategies. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule, and descriptive statistics, Pearson's product moment correlation, and Chi square analysis were used to analyze the data. Results showed that the average age of the respondents was 53.4 years, and the mean farming experience was 15.5 years. Filling bags with sands (=2.86) and early planting of crops (=2.76) were the most popular coping measures. Chi-square analysis indicated positive and significant relationship between level of use of coping strategies and radio (χ2= 48.908; p<0.05) and fellow farmers (χ2= 141.976; p<0.05). Results further showed that the use of coping strategies had a significant relationship on flooding (p<0.05). The study concluded that the effect of flooding on crop farming is high and also that the use of coping strategies has a significant relationship with the effect on flooding on arable crop farming in the study area. Findings underscore the need to devise strategies to cope with this devastating effect on arable crop farming. It also recommends increased extension contacts to provide reliable and adequate source of information on coping strategies for flooding.