ASSESSING THE POSITIVE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF FLOOD DISASTER ON NIGERIA FOOD SECURITY: STUDY OF THE CONFLUENCE COMMUNITIES OF NUMAN, ADAMAWA STATE NIGERIA.

This study looks at how flood disaster affects food security in Numan, Adamawa State.Numan is situated at the confluence of River Benue and River Gongola.It is located approximately 50km from Yola and serves as a major regional collecting point for peanuts, cotton, sorghum, millet, cowpeas, fish, goats, sheep, and cattle.The primary livelihoods in the study area comprise farming, fishing, and cattle rearing.A sample of 200 households was selected from the buffer zones of the two rivers.Data analysis was executed using simple percentages and frequencies to establish straightforward empirical observations without technical software reliance.Results show severe food insecurity and hunger across the households: 74% skip meals due to lack of money, 42% go an entire day without eating, 61% eat less food than required, and 55% cut the portion size of children's meals.The primary staple foods consumed consist of maize and guinea corn (42.5%).Regarding post-flood recovery, 68% of respondents reported that food intake did not improve after flooding due to crops being washed away (52.9%), high agricultural input costs (23.5%), loss of livestock (14.7%), and physical displacement (8.9%).Only 32% observed slight food security improvements attributed to residual soil moisture and fertile silt deposits left behind by flood waters.A majority (78%) agreed that flooding enhances soil fertility, 62% actively practice flood recession agriculture, and 82% confirmed that floodwaters deposit rich alluvial sediments from upper catchments.