EFFECT OF ANNUAL FLOODING ON CASSAVA PRODUCTION AND COPPING STRATEGIES IN KOLOKUMA/OPOKUMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BAYELSA STATE

The study examined the effect of flooding on cassava production in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: ascertain the effect of annual flooding on cassava production and assess the coping strategies employed by the farmers in combating the effects in the study. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select one hundred (100) cassava farmers for the study. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and mean scores, while ordinary least square simple regression analysis was used to test the null hypothesis at 5% level of significance. The result revealed that land erosion (= 3.05), pre-mature harvesting of crops (= 2.99), loss of crops (= 2.96), reduced soil fertility (= 2.93) and shortened farming season (= 2.71) were notable effects of annual flooding on cassava production. Furthermore, planting quick maturing varieties of crops (92.2%), digging of drainages/embankments before flood season (89.0%), planting early and harvesting before the onset of flood (85.0%) and conserving food and water (80.0%) were the major coping strategies employed by cassava farmers in combating the effects of annual flooding on cassava production. The ordinary least square regression analysis revealed that flooding (-45.285)*** significantly and negatively influenced the output of cassava farmers at 1% level of significance. The study concluded that flooding negatively influenced the output of cassava farmers. The study therefore recommended that there is need to support farmers in the study area with information on how to combat flooding menace so as to restore soil fertility, reduce land erosion/loss of crops thus ensuring food abundance during flooding. Keywords: Cassava, Coping, Effect, Flooding, Production, Strategies