Water Resources Degradation and its Impact on the Livelihood of Komadugu Yobe Basin Communities, Yobe State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56919/usci.2541.014Keywords:
Water Resource, Degradation, Livelihood, Komadugu Yobe Basin, CommunitiesAbstract
Study’s Excerpt:
- Water resources degradation in the basin has resulted in pushing over 75% of the households to food insecurity.
- Previous studies have not establish the percentage of households affected by food insecurity due to water resources degradation in the basin.
- This study employed the survey design method to collect data on how water resources degradation affected the livelihood of the community.
- Findings revealed that over 75% of the household became food insecure due to poor harvest.
- The study findings would prompt policy and decision makers to effectively implement measures to address the problem of water resources degradation as it affect the livelihood of the basin community.
Full Abstract:
This study intended to examine water resources degradation and its impact on the livelihood of Komadugu Yobe Basin communities. The study adopted household survey, Focus Group Discussion and field observation to collect data. Nguru, Bade, Bursari and Gaidam Local Government Areas were purposively selected to form the sampling frame. 5% of each household in the four selected communities formed the sample size. Data were analyzed using Excel for descriptive statistics. Findings from field survey shows that about 66.3% of the respondents are farmers engaged in different crop production. Fishing is also one of the major economic activity in the basin. Population increase, rainfall variability, upstream dam construction, livestock over grazing, intensive agricultural activities, farmland expansion are key factors responsible for the degradation. The findings also revealed that decline in surface water and rainfall have resulted in declining livelihood activities due to low crop yield, hence food insecurity at the community level with over 75% of the household became food insecure due to poor harvest. The study further revealed that farmers have adopted several coping strategies such as animals asset selling, loans, remittances, off farm labour to complement family income and needs. It is recommended that proper dam regulation, awareness creation on the sustainable agricultural practice, clearance of the river bed to improve flow of water to downstream communities, as well as sustainable water use practices would address water resources degradation of the basin to improve livelihood activities.
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