Assessment of Local Community Awareness and Response to Flood Hazard Along River Taraba Catchment, Taraba State

Abstract

Flooding is a common and on-going environmental problem in the Middle and South–western Taraba especially the peripheral of all the major tributaries of River Benue in Taraba State. This problem has persisted and often affects the agricultural sector and socio-economic activities of the inhabitants of these areas. Focus group discussion and questionnaire was employed to illicit information on the perception to flood incidence in the study area. Regarding the incessant flooding in the catchment area, general perception of the respondents who have lived more than 20 years and above in the locality affirmed that excess of water from the Lagdo dam is responsible for the yearly flooding of the area. About 51% of the respondents are attestants to this. Floodplain encroachment accounts for 39% while about 4% of the respondents support the fact that the low land terrain is the cause of the flooding. Majority in the study area observed that flooding is intensifying in the area. 97% indicated that they are aware of change in climate resulting to change in course of nature. 82% of the respondents confirm reduction in farm yield as a result of farmland overflow. Other effect as depicted by the respondents include; destruction of properties/infrastructures, hike in food crops and increase erosion. The common response of the inhabitants to the incessant flooding is temporal abandonment of location. The study concluded that flooding in the state is mainly caused by excess water accumulation from the upper catchments of the study area as a result of increased rainfall due to climate change. The study therefore recommend for the need for government institution on Climate Change and Land Reform, that is saddled with responsibility of not only to disseminate but also to create more awareness on effect of climate change and danger of settlement encroachment on floodplain.