EFFECT OF 2012 FLOOD DISASTER ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CASSAVA FARMERS IN ETSAKO EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT: The study examined the effect of flood disaster on the socio-economic characteristics or cassava farmers in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. Simple random sampling procedure was used to select 371 respondent from four communities. A well structured interview schedule was used to obtain data. Descriptive statistics, and t-test were employed in the analysis. The results showed that there were more male farmers in the study area when female farmers. Most of the farmers were married and they practice full time farming. Few of the farmers have at least 2 hectare of their farm size. Most of the farmers were also into other crop cultivation like vegetable and yam and most of the farmer were into commercial farming. The Correlation showed significant relationship between respondent’s socio-economic characteristic and the general effect of flooding and the t-test establish a statistically differences between the effect of flooding on output. This study therefore recommends that Government show empower the people living in the area by creating jobs to reduce the poverty rate in the study area.