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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 10, No. 3
Publication Date: June 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/aivp.103.12567. Okafor, O. E., Chioma, N. N., & Pethronila, O. I. (2022). Effect of Cooperative Membership on Alleviating Problems of Flood Victims
in Anambra State (A Study of Selected Cooperative in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria). European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 720-728.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Effect of Cooperative Membership on Alleviating Problems of
Flood Victims in Anambra State (A Study of Selected Cooperative
in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria)
Okafor, Ogochukwu Esther
Department of Cooperative Economics & Management
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
Ngene Ngozi Chioma
Department of Cooperative Economics & Management
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
Okafor Ifeoma Pethronila PhD
Department of Business Administration & Management
Federal Polytechnic, Oko Anambra State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The regular annual flooding that destroys farmer’s crops in the studied area
necessitated this study to examine the effect of cooperative membership on
alleviating problems of flood victims in Anambra state, Nigeria. The work is
anchored on the theory of vulnerability as derived from the ideas of Martha
Albertson Fineman (2008). The study adopted a survey research design and the
study area was Ogbaru local government Area of Anambra state. A sample of 100
members of agricultural cooperatives were selected through random sampling.
Questionnaire was employed to obtain data for the study. Data were analyzed using
descriptive and inferential statistics and hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 level of
significance, signifying a 95% level of confidence. Findings revealed that the
significant factor accounting for differences in their alleviation of problems were
proved by being member of cooperative. The rate of alleviation of problems of
cooperative members was extremely higher than that of non-cooperative;
cooperative had more stable measures of mitigating problems for the development
of rural farmers. The hypotheses revealed that �� of 0.793 shows that 79.3% of
variations in income is caused by severity of flooding. The T-value of 0.000 is
significant at 5% level showing the strength of the model. Severity of flooding have
coefficient of -0.892 and was very significant. It shows that when flooding increase
by one unit, income will fall by 0.892. in the studied area. Sequel to this, it was
concluded that Being member of a cooperative society was discovered to be a better
alternative for alleviation of the problems of flood victims in the area. It was
recommended among others that important to give flood victims important needed
information and enlightenment as regards flood events and insurance (of crops,
livestock, farmlands and properties
Key words – Cooperative membership, Flooding, impact of flooding and Alleviating
flooding problem
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Okafor, O. E., Chioma, N. N., & Pethronila, O. I. (2022). Effect of Cooperative Membership on Alleviating Problems of Flood Victims in Anambra
State (A Study of Selected Cooperative in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria). European Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(3).
720-728.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12567
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Floods are catastrophic calamities that yearly afflict Ogbaru L.G.A of Anambra state, Nigeria,
and the rest of the globe, particularly in flood plain areas (Action Aid, 2016). Floods not only
destroy property and risk human and animal life, but they also cause the spread of illnesses
such as cholera and malaria. Flooding is usually caused by severe rainfall on flat terrain,
reservoir failure, volcano eruptions, melting snow and/or glaciers, and other factors. Flood risk
is determined by a variety of factors, including rainfall, river flow and tidal surge statistics,
terrain, flood control systems, and changes caused by building and development on flood plain
regions (Abowei et al, 2015). Flooding is produced by a variety of reasons and is almost always
preceded by heavy rainfall. Other sources of flooding include moderate to severe winds over
water, unusually high tides, tsunamis caused by underwater earthquakes, and breakdowns or
failures in dams, levees, retention ponds or lakes, and other water-retaining infrastructure.
Flooding can be exacerbated by impermeable surfaces or other natural and man-made dangers
that degrade soil and plants that can absorb rainfall (Prekeyi et al, 2015). Although flooding is
a natural phenomenon, man-made modifications to the soil can also play a role. Flooding is not
caused by development, although it can exacerbate it. Pavement and roofs in cities and suburbs
prevent some rainfall from being absorbed by the soil. This can increase the amount of runoff
that enters low-lying areas or the storm drain system (Adeaga, 2018).
The 2015 flood disaster in Nigeria is significant because it was unprecedented in the previous
forty years. Most of Nigeria's central states, as well as adjoining states along the rivers Niger
and Benue, have been devastated by floods, causing massive destruction to rural and urban
infrastructures (farmlands/crops, roads, buildings, damages, bridges, power lines, etc.) and
socioeconomic lives in the areas. As a result, these damages have environmental, economic,
social, demographic, and psychological dimensions (Welch et al 2017).
Alleviating flood-related problems is a difficult and time-consuming process, and most farmers
have only access to short-term recoup plans, which do not provide as much assistance as long- term recoup plans. Returning to farmland after a flood is often as dangerous as the flood itself,
especially if no disaster preparedness plan was implemented (Obinna et al 2018). Because of
their lack of exposure and expertise, these farmers are frequently unable to develop any
disaster preparation plans, and even when they can, execution becomes a challenge.
Cooperatives are viewed as a good instrument for managing risk for agricultural sector
members by providing farm supplies such as seeds and fertilizers, as well as providing financial
assistance credit to their flood-affected members to address the aforementioned issues, this
study "the influence of cooperative membership on reducing the concerns of flood victims in
Ogbaru Local Government Area" is being conducted.
Objective of the study
1. Analyze the effects of flooding on the economic activities rural farmers in Ogaru LGA of
Anambra State.
2. Determine the contribution of cooperative on the alleviating the problem of flood victims
Research Hypothesis
Flooding has no significant effect on the income of victims in the area.
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European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 10, Issue 3, June-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Conceptual review
Flood
A flood is an outpouring of water that submerges ordinarily dry ground. A flood is defined by
the European Union Flood Directive as water flooding territory that is not regularly covered by
water. Flooding can occur as a consequence of an overflow of water from a body of water, such
as a river or lake, in which the water overtops or destroys levees, allowing some of the water to
escape its regular confines, or it can occur as a result of precipitation accumulating on wet land
in an area flood. Floods are defined by (Djimesah, Okine, & Mireku 2018) as excessive water
rushing across previously dry ground. Floods are said to be responsible for about half of all
deaths caused by natural catastrophes (Guoqiang et al 2015). A flood is a "rush of water into
ordinarily dry terrain," according to the National Weather Service. Flooding can occur due to a
variety of factors, including the presence of existing rivers. Floods can occur over a lengthy
period of time, spanning from days to weeks, and are caused by rivers and streams.
Cooperative membership
People form cooperatives for a number of reasons, including economic, social, and political.
Cooperating with others has shown to be a successful means of accomplishing one's own goals
while also supporting others in achieving theirs. "An autonomous group of individuals who join
freely to achieve their common economic and social needs and ambitions through a jointly
owned and democratically controlled firm," according to the definition of cooperatives (ICA,
1995). Like-minded people form cooperatives to seek mutually beneficial economic goals.
(Okafor, 2021) Businesses owned and controlled by the people who use their services (a
consumer cooperative), and organizations governed by the people who work there are
examples of cooperatives (worker cooperatives) In all governance models, active cooperative
membership is critical for members; it enables them to create extremely efficient controlling
and governance procedures, particularly in big cooperatives. Active participation gives
member-customers a significant competitive advantage against investor-owned enterprises
(IOFs). It also supports a process that can result in cooperatives changing for the better,
resulting in higher levels of benefits and, as a result, higher levels of member loyalty. Frans,
Panagiota, and Gert are three of the most well-known people in the Netherlands (2015)
Impacts of Flooding on the Economic Activities of Rural Farmers
Flooding in important agricultural producing regions may cause severe crop and fence damage,
as well as livestock loss. Rain damage, saturated soils, and harvesting delays exacerbate crop
losses, which are exacerbated by transportation issues caused by flooded roads and damaged
infrastructure. Food prices rise as a result of supply limitations, and the consequences of
diminished agricultural production can sometimes be felt much beyond the production region.
Flood occurrences, on the other hand, can boost agricultural productivity in the long run by
recharging water resource storages, particularly in drier, inland locations, and revitalizing soil
fertility through silt deposition. Damage to public infrastructure impacts a far larger percentage
of the population than those whose homes or businesses are directly flooded. Flood damage to
roads, rail networks, and critical transportation hubs like maritime ports, in particular, may
have a considerable impact on regional and national economy. Floods wreak havoc on city
drainage systems and frequently overload sewer systems, Rubin, Ken (2016).
Farmers in Nigeria were suffering seasonal flooding issues a few years ago, resulting in low
crop yields and low revenue. For example, flooding in Ogbaru resulted in the loss of 54 percent