A SEMINAR PAPER SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC AND
EXTENSION MANAGEMENT
IN
PATIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE
(M.SC) IN AGRICULTURAL
Table of content
1.1 introduction
1.2 Flood
in Ebonyi State
1.3 Causes
of flood
1.4 Devestating
effects of flooding
1.5 Benefits
of flooding
1.6 Preventive / onto/ mitigating measures
1.7 Conclusion
/ recommendation
Reference
Introduction
Flood is an
over flowing of a great body of water
over land not usually submerged (oxford English Dictionary). Flood can also be
define as large volume of water which arrive at and occupy the stream channel and its flood plain in a time
to short to prevent damage to economic activities including home. Abam (2006).
According to
Nwafor (2006), is a natural hazard like
drought and desertification which occurs as an extreme hydrological (run off)
event.
Flooding is
the most common of all environmental hazards and it regularly claims over 20,000 lives per year
and adversely affects around 75 million people world-wide (smith, 1996) .
Across the
globe, floods have posed tremendous danger to people’s live and properties. It
cause about one third of all deaths, one third of all injuries and one third of
all damage from natural disasters (Askew, 1997). According to (Etuonovbe, 2011), flood has become a
developmental issue across the world. It
is the most common environmental hazard in Nigeria . From J.uly –October 2012,
Nigeria witnessed unprecedented flooding traversing areas of the country along
major river basins and water courses in 35 out of 36 states of the country. The
recent flood occurrence in Nigeira has been linked to combination effects of
natural, environmental and anthropogen factors including the heavy rains
coupled with the releases of water from Lagdo dam in Cameroon, Dand dam in Kowa
and Kiri dam in river Gongola among other (UN DP, 2012)
The flood
caused significant damages throughout the length and breath of Nigeria. For
instance, killing about 431, injuring 29, 680 and displacing 1, 341, 179
people. In addition, large tract of agricultural land many still under crops
and a number of livestock, settlement and other critical infrastructure such as
roads, bridges, communities and power installations were destroyed. The extent
and intensity of the flood not only outweighed
the capacity of individual farming household, but also that of the states and
local governments in providing support and emergency relief. National Bureau of statistics (2012)
FLOOD
IN EBONYI STATE
The unprecedented 2012 flood that ravaged
parts of Nigeria between july to
September devastated the agricultural belt of Ebonyi State. The flooding crisis
followed recent heavy downpours that caused rivers to flow over their banks
leaving large parts of Ebonyi under water for some weeks. The flooding affected
Eleven (11) L.G.As, killing 7 persons (4 in Ikwo L.G.A and 3 in 1zzi LGA) and
displacing 50715 peoples and several homes fully or partially submerged . SEMA (2012). Large plots of farm lands with crops and a
number of livestock, homes, livelihoods and productivity estimated at billions
of naira were lost. Most farm lands remained under water for a long period of
time.
The LGAs where total crops losses were expected are shown in the table 1 below.
Table
1 Tragedies of Floods And Associated Effects in the Affected L.G Of Ebonyi
State
LG
|
Tragedy
|
Associated
effect
|
No
of victims
|
No
of death
|
Abakaliki
Urban
|
Flood
|
Houses
submerged, farm land washed away properties destroyed
|
1750
|
-
|
Afikpo North
|
Flood
|
House
destroyed, farm land destroyed, schools market, submerged
|
2815
|
-
|
Afikpo South
|
Flood
|
Farm land submerged. Houses submerged
|
100
|
-
|
Ebonyi
|
Flood
|
Farm land destroyed, houses washed way
|
1300
|
-
|
Ikwo
|
Flood
|
House
destroyed, farm land destroyed houses, properties destroyed, life lost
|
35450
|
4
|
Ivo
|
Flood
|
Farm
land destroyed house submerged
|
1050
|
-
|
Izzi
|
Flood
|
Houses destroyed farm land destroyed school,
market submerged, life lost
|
3500
|
3
|
Ishielu
|
Flood
|
farm
land submerged hoses destroyed
|
300
|
-
|
Ohozara
|
Flood
|
Farm land destroyed hoses destroyed
|
1200
|
-
|
Ohukwu
|
Flood
|
Farm
land destroyed houses destroyed
|
1200
|
-
|
Onicha
|
Flood
|
Farm
land destroyed house destroyed
|
1200
|
-
|
Source:
Ebonyi SEMA, 2012
According to the source, the major crops
destroyed were rice, cassava and yam. Other crops include, cocoyam, pumkin,
vegetables, etc. All existing fish ponds around these areas were washed away,
for instance, the Fijimold fish farm sited within the Abakaliki urban owned by
Chief Fedilis Mbam. The SSG of Ebonyi state.was badly hit by the 2012 flood.
The farm lost 22 thousand range of catfish and tilapia fishes that worth
13,500.00 (thirteen thousand five
hundred million naira).
CAUSES
OF FLOOD
Occurrence and reoccourrence of prolonged
heavy rainfall and the result floods all over the world in the recent time are
becoming concerns of research and government (Action Aid, 2006). The frequency
of the phenomenon is no large news worthy of some instances . There are three
schools of though about the preponderance of flood all over the globe
especially in the tropics. The first is of the opinion that there is global warning and climate change
that is directly or indirectly increasing the amount of run offs. In this case,
the only source of water that results in
great run off (flood) in west African and ineeded Nigeria will be rain water. The second school of thought is of the view that there have
been a lot of abuses on the environment. The abuse include but not limited to
poor management of wastes, inadequate drains for the build up areas and others.
The third school of thought has it that
it is the combination of all two components above that are the cause of
prolonged and torrential showers of
rains and the resultant run offs that lead to devastating floods in America,
Europe and Africa including Nigeria. The
fact behind this school of thought is yet to be researched and confirmed.
(Dowing, 2002)
Welch
et al (1977) opined that heavy rain fall, highly accelerated snowmelt severe
winds over water, unusual high tide, tsumamis, or failure of dams, leaves
retention ponds or other structures that retained the water flooding can be
exacerbated by increased amount of impervious surface or by other natural
hazards such as wildfires, which reduces the supply of vegetation that can
absorb rainfall.
Nott
(2006) veiwed the causes of flood to be broadly divided into physical, such as
climatological forces and human influences such as vegetation clearing and urban
development. According to him, the most common causes of flood are climate
related, most notably rainfall. prolonged rainfall events are the most common
causes of flooding world wide. These events are usually associated with several
days, weeks or months of continuous rainfall. Human impacts on river
catchments also influence flood
behavours. Deforestation results in increase run-offs and often a decrease in
channel capacity due to increase sedimentation
rates.
Etuonovbe
(2011) agreed the cause of flood in Nigeria to be of Natural cause or
Human cause. She revealved that the
natural causes are in form of
Heavy or torrential (rain)
rainstorm oceans storms and tidal waves usually along the coast.
Human cause which includes:
Burst water main pipes
Dam burst levee failures
Dam spills.
In the months of September and October
2012, several flooding ravaged Nigeria disrupting various sectors of Nigeria’s
economy. This was caused by excessive rainfall within and outside Nigeria as
well as a\water released from the Lagdo reservoir in the Republic of Cameroon.
Mohammad Sani Sidi (2012).
The cause of the flooding in
Nigeria was also attributed to torrential rain that last for some days, over
flowing of river Niger necessitating the increase of water from Kainji and
shiroro dam coupled with the release of water from Lagdo dam in Cameroon. These
events happening at the same time cause a perfect storm of water deluge in the
affected states including Ebonyi state. The incidence of flood caused by sudden
excessive rainfall is becoming common both in Nigeria as well as many parts of
the world. Other reasons include poor planning by state government inspite of
the early warnings by the Nigeria metrological Agency NIMET about an imminent
heavy rainfall and the attendant flooding.
DEVASTATING
EFFECT /LOSSES INCURRED DURING FLOODING
The effect of flooding
have increasingly assumed from significant to threatening proportions,
resulting in loss of lives and properties. Etuonovbe(2011). Etuonovbe
maintained that in Nigeria, though not leading in terms of claiming lives,
flood affects and displaces more people than any other disaster. Flood has
displaced so many people, chasing the inhabitants away. It has shattered both
the built-environment and undeveloped plan. One funny thing about flood is that
it does not discriminate, but marginalizes whoever refuses to prepare for its
occurrence. She described that irreparable havocs have been sustained by the
Nigerian citizens due to what has become perennial natural disaster in our
cities. Apart from houses that collapse by flooding, school buildings and bridges
sometimes collapse as well. Market places and farm lands are submerged for
weeks and are sometimes washed away.
According
to Smith and Ward (1998), there are more evidence that flood problems is
getting worse in terms of the damages caused by flooding.
Despite massive expenditures on
flood defense, flood damage losses continue to rise in many countries. The two
describe the losses incurred during flooding as direct and indirect.
The
direct losses occur immediately after the event of flood as a result of the
physical contact of flood water with humans and with damageable properties.
However, indirect losses which are less easily connected to the flood disaster
and often operate on-long time scales, maybe equally, or even more important.
Depending on whether or not losses are cable of assessment in monetary values,
they are termed tangible and intangible. The tangible losses associated with
direct losses include physical damage to properties, and restoration cost and
the intangible losses associated with direct losses include loss of human life,
illness of flood victims. Under the indirect loss, the identified tangible
losses include disruption of traffic and economic activities, reduced
purchasing power and the intangible losses include increased hazard vulnerabilities
and loss of confidence. Some of the most important direct consequences of
flooding are probably greatest in least developed countries (L.D.Cs) especially
where frequent and devastating floods create impact for survivors. Primary
losses can be high in rural areas where most of the damage is sustained by
crops, livestock and the agriculture such as the irrigation system, levees,
walls, and fences. In other words, primary losses relate mainly to the
disruption of economic and social activities especially in urban areas
immediately after a flood, Smith and Ward (1998).
According
to Bariweni. P.A, et al. (2012), the effects of flooding are felt by various
receptors. These include, people, buildings, infrastructures, agriculture, open
recreational space and the natural world. He maintained that in extreme cases
flooding may cause a loss of life. Flood severely affect the economy of a
country. Businesses may loss stock, patronage data and productivity and
disruption to utilities and transport infrastructure can have knock-on effects
to a wider area, tourism, farming and livestock can equally be affected.
According
to Lind, et al.(2008), the effects in case of flooding has many dimensions. In
addition to economic loss and loss of life and injury, there may be
irreversible losses of land of historical for cultural valuable and loss of
nature or ecological valuables. Ninno et al, (2003) stated that the 1998 floods
in Bangladesh caused severe damage to the rice crop and threatened the food
security to ten millions of households. The flood led to major crop losses,
losses of assets and lower employment
opportunities.
The
flood that hit Sudan in 1998 is a good example of extreme flood event. The
Sudden and unexpected flow of water of the white and blue Nile due to
unprecedented torrential rain cause serious property damage and human sorrow.
In Khartoum province alone, food production fell at least 60% and the flood
damaged irrigation canals, sewage system,
electricity, roads and water system. Severe losses were reported in
agriculture, the main economic activities of the population (Disaster Risk Management
Study Guide for Dim 605:- module 2). Theron (2007) indicated that at least 20
countries in Africa are affected by floods. These countries include Algeria,
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’ Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya,
Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo
and Uganda. He observed the immense damage to farms, crops, and livestock, The
Ivory Coast flooding occurred very close to harvest time making the loss even
greater, since farmers did not have much food stored from previous harvesting
season. Flood also caused loss of soil fertility which lessened future
harvests.
In
Nigeria, according to the report from Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development, the losses and damages in different sectors include washed away
farmlands, swept away fish ponds bordering the rivers, destroyed rice farms, lost
livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry), destroyed irrigation
infrastructure and equipment, lost fish from the ponds, inputs washed away
(feeds and seeds), crop land with almost mature produce. (FMARD, 2012).
The
effects of flooding could be generally classified as follows:-
-Cause, aggravate and precipitate
diarrhea water-borne diseases, destroy farms, food and cash crops.
-Make the individual, communities and nation
poor through disruption of services
and degradation of agricultural lands.
-Destroy human life, animal life
and properties
-Degrade the environment,
spread infestations, soil and water are
polluted by chemicals.
-Cause soil infertility through
leaching and erosion of rich soil.
-Cause fire out breaks. Etuonorbe.
(2011)
Benefit
of Flooding
The are ,many disruptive effects of flooding
on human settlements and economic activities. However, floods (in particular the more frequent/ smaller floods) can also
bring many benefits such as recharging ground water making soil more fertile
and providing nutrients in which it is deficient. Bariweni et al., (2012). They
noted that flood waters provide much needed
water resources in particular in
arid and semi-arid regions where precipitation events can be very unevenly
distributed throughout the year.
A study carried out on the
Devastating effect of flooding in Nigeria by Angela K.Etuonovbe (2012) revealed
that, as many residents of Lagos and Ogun states have been displaced as a result of flooding
believed to have been caused by the release of water from Oyan Dam Ogum state,
hunter, fishermen and Hawkers are cashing in on the disaster to make money. The
flood has a positive effect on their business. According to fishermen
interviewed voiced that they do not need to paddle their canoes to the far end
of the river before catching fishes. According to them, when the water level of
a river increased, more fishes tried to swim shore, they said this natural phenomenon explained why fishes were
always abundant during the raining season and added hectic that though we
sympathized with people that have lost their property and homes, the flood has
made our business a boom, now we catch more fishes than before. Even in the
areas where they could not fish before because of shallow state of the river
they now catch big fishes there because they are being pursued by the flood.
Bariweni et al (2012) also stated that
fresh water floods particularly play an important role in maintaining ecosystem
in river corridors and are a key factor in maintaining flood plain
biodiversity. He maintained that flooding adds a lot of nutrients to lakes and
rivers which leads to improved fishes for a few years. also because of the
suitability of a flood plain for spawning fish make use of floods to reach new
habitats.
The hunters were not left out in
this Etuonovbe (2011). According to her since the flood, hunters claim that
their traps caught more animals that it used to. Animals chased by the floods
were cut by the trap. The reason were that while the flood is surging forward,
animals run away from it and end up being caught up by their traps .
PREVENTIVE / CONTROL / MITIGATING MEASURES
One
of the significant measure that have been adopted to prevent and reduce the
risk of community members in flood prone areas are the pre-flood education and
clean up exercises (ILGS, 2012) according to them, organizing regular flood
prevention sensitizing and awareness creation programmes to educate people on
how to mange flooding where and how to build hoses and use land is the best
method to prevent flooding. Pre-flood education will help to educate people on
the effects of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage facilities and
proper building practices.
Complementary to pre-flood education
are flood warnings and timely emergency actions. Aletan et al (2011). According to them, a combination of
clear and accurate warning massage with a high level of community awareness gives the
best level of preparedness for self reliant action during floods. Public
education programmes are crucial to the success of warnings intended to
preclude a hazard from turning into a disaster.
Flood warnings according to Bariweni
et al (2012) is the provision of advance warning of conditions that are likely
to cause flooding to property and a potential risk to life. They maintained
that the main purpose of flood warning is to save life by allowing people,
support and emergency services time to prepare for flooding. While the secondary
purpose of flooding is to reduce the effects and damage of flooding.
Flood
control refers to all methods used to reduce the detrimental effects of flood
water. Bariweni, et al (2012). They disclosed some method of flood control
which have been practiced since ancient times to include.
*
Planting vegetation to retain extra water
*
Terracing hill sides to slow flow down hills
*
Construction of flood ways (man-made channels to divert flood water)
*
other techniques include the
construction of levees, dikes, dams, reservoirs or retention ponds to hold
extra water during time of flooding
Dam/Reserviours:
According
to Aletan et al (2011), flood control dams stores all or a portion of the flood
waters in the reservoir, particularly during peak flood and then releases the
water slowly. Space within a reservoir is generally reserved to store impending
floods, based on hydrological forecasts, the reservoir is regulated in away to
minimize the chances of coincident peak floods in different tributaries synchronizing
in the main stem of the river
downstream. Small to medium floods generated from catchment are fully captured
by the reservoirs.
RIVER
DEFENSES
River defence
according to Bariweni et al (2012) are levees, bunds, reserviours and
wires( low head dam) which are used to prevent river from over flowing their
banks. In many countries, rivers prone to flood are often managed carefully.
When these defences fail, emergency measures such as sand bags or portable
inflatable tubes are used.
COASTAL DEFENSES
Coastal
flooding has been addressed with coastal defense such as sea walls beach nourishment
and barrier islands. Barweni et al (2012) tide gates are use in conjunction
with dykes and culvers. They can be placed at the month of streams or Small
River where tributary streams or drainage ditches connect to sloughs, tide
gates close during incoming tides to prevent tidal waters from moving upland
and open during outgoing tides to allow water to drain or though culverts and into the dike. The opening and closing
of gates is driven by a differences in water level on either side of the gate.
According to Etuonvobe, (2011)
individual, state and federal government has a role to play in order to
mitigate the deveatafing effect of flooding in Nigeria. She adviced that as a
respondible citizen you should help in
every way to construct drain and ditches or embankments, to protect building,
construction utilities etc.
Never
put refuse or solid materials in draining and discourage others from doing so
Always help to clean gutters or drains and
encourage other to do the same.
Identify
a high place where you can run to during floods
Prevent
becoming a victim to floods
Known
that no amount of sympathy and relief can make up for the pain greif and the losses
you will suffer from flood disaster.
Educate
yourself and others about floods know the signals and behave as you directed.
Don’t
remove plant or tress unnecessarily; help to replant burnt or desired forests.
From
state and federal Government she also
adviced that they should find a means of measuring or checking water levels of
rivers, streams and dams system and
centres for the population especially against dam burst
Issue
and strictly enforce regulations banning building and residents in flood prone
zones.
Build
and develop infrastructure which will prevent or limit flood and protect
population systematically spill off water (after due warning to control the
level of water in dams. Identify cause and plan to prevent its recurrence.
Arrange
for and provide relief (flood, water, clothing, shelter etc.)
Check
for realated water-borne diseases and immunize residents or offer preventive
and curative treatments of need be
Desilt
drains construct drains were needed.
Remove
or demolish all structures obstructing drainage
Demolish budly damged or destroyed structures
and building that can obstruct free flow of water
CONCLUSION / RECOMMENDATION
If
is evident that flood had forced
thousand of people from their homes while hundred of people lost their live to flooding in Ebonyi State.
Since some parts of the state are
situated during heavy areas, which can be submerged during heavy rains, such
areas can adequately be coped with rather than being controlled or mitigated
In conclusion, there is urgent need
for a collaborative effect of government and stakeholders to support proper
land use and town planning to compact flooding Ebonyi State and in Nigeria at
large since the environment remains our most valued possession and legacy. Let
us hands to protect our environment.
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