Effect of flooding on socio-economic livelihood of the farmers in lower Kano plain, Kisumu County, Kenya

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Abstract/Overview

Periodic flooding is a menace to agricultural activities in such regions due to disruptions on farmlands, grazing grounds, sweeping of human beings and animals, and socio-economic livelihood and infrastructure of the residents. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of flooding on socio-economic livelihood of the households living in Lower Kano plain, Kisumu County. The study was conducted at Lower Kano plain for a period of three months and targeted 950 households, out of which 273 were selected using Fischer’s formulae. The households were selected through purposive sampling and snow balling. The study employed descriptive survey design. Questionnaires, observations, and documentary analysis were used to collect the data. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics such as Pearson’s product moment correlation. This study revealed that majority of the respondents (77%) agreed that during flooding, their health infrastructure were destroyed as well as impeding the accessibility of health services. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient analysis revealed that r = 0.9428, implying that there was a strong positive correlation between the duration of floods and the level of damage to agriculture. In conclusion, floods continue to disrupt agricultural activities in Lower Kano Plains by drowning animals, washing away crops, killing humans and destroying basic infrastructure. The study recommended that government should design sustainable mitigation measures to minimize the impact of floods and the associated risks not only in Lower Kano Plain area but also in other flood plains

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