An Assessment On The Socio-Economic Effect Of Gully Erosion On Dwellers Of Okigwe Local Government Area Of Imo State

ABSTRACT

Soil erosion is the systematic removal of soil including plant nutrients from the land surface by various agents of denudation. This study intends to examine the community assessment on the social and economic effect of gully erosion on dwellers of Ihube, Amuro and Ugwaku communities in okigwe local government of Imo state respectively. It also intends to identify the percentage of gully erosion area affected in the total land use area of the communities/ villages under study. Moreover, the factors responsible for the gully incidents in the study area and ways of controlling it were not left unattended. Data for the study was collected mostly from two sources; primary source and secondary source. Primary source of data are direct observation from field work and the use of questionnaire. While the secondary source includes location maps, library materials such as journals unpublished B.Sc, M.Sc and PhD thesis, seminars and conference papers. Slovin’s formula was used to determine sample size; Descriptive statistical tools were applied to deal with the method and techniques of summarizing and describing information (data). Percentages and frequencies were equally used in order to achieve a more detailed and comprehensive research study. The data obtained was tested and accepted at 0.005 level of significant. Multiple linear regression (MLR) was used to test the first hypothesis which states that “There is no significant relationship between (Ho) the gully erosion (area of erosion sites) and the building destroyed as well as expanse of farm land affected by erosion”. Whereas Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the second hypothesis which states that “Dweller’s perception on the effect of gully erosion on the social and economic nature of the affected communities in the study area does not differ significantly. Findings are that “There is a significant relationship between gully erosion and socio-economic values of properties affected by gully erosion in the three communities. And the result of the second hypothesis reveals that “Dwellers perception on the effect of gully erosion on the socio-economic nature of the affected communities in the study area differs significantly. The solution to gully erosion menace is to treat it as a vital component of the broad issue of environmental problem management. This will be achieved with adequate knowledge of the environment.