Causal Linkages between Flood Hazards and Food Insecurity: Evidence from Nigeria

Authors : Felix ACHOJA, O’raye Dicta OGISI, Daniel Chukwujioke OKEKE

Pages : 91-99

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Publication Date : 2019-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study analyzes the causal and spread effects of extreme flood on food availability and affordability, as the two dimensions of food security in Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to collect primary data from 420 farming households. Statistical methods, regression model and descriptive statistics, were used to analyze data. It was found out that household mean food security index is 0.32 (32%) and it was significantly influenced by flood hazards in the short run. Results suggest that the flood hazards directly lead to a fall in the food availability, food consumption and welfare of vulnerable rural households. This indicates that the more the flood severity the more the food security challenge among indigenous farming households. Spillover (indirect) effects of flood hazards show the extent of spread of the hazards in the form of disease outbreak, increased dependency ratio, mass migration of flood victims, food scarcity and increase in prices of food stuffs. 
Keywords : spillover effects, flood hazards, food insecurity, causal effects, spread effects