The Economics of Erosion Disaster on Farmland Loss and Agricultural Output in Ebonyi State

Gully erosion represents one of the most severe forms of land degradation affecting agricultural viability in the Southeast Nigeria, with Ebonyi State hosting some of the most extensively eroded farmlands in the sub-region. This study examines the economic consequences of erosion disasters on farmland loss and agricultural output in Ebonyi State from 2019 to 2024. The study is grounded in the Environmental Economics Theory of Externalities, which frames land degradation as a negative externality arising from the interaction between human land use practices, climate variability, and inadequate soil conservation investment. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted, targeting farm households in erosion-affected LGAs. From an estimated population of 22,000 affected farming households, a sample of 393 respondents was drawn using stratified random sampling. Structured questionnaires and geographic information system (GIS)-referenced land records from the Ebonyi State Agricultural Development Programme served as instruments. Findings indicate that an estimated 14,000 hectares of farmland have been rendered permanently unproductive by erosion activities in Ebonyi State since 2019. Affected households experienced an average annual income loss of 180,000 naira, with cassava, yam, and rice production most severely impacted. The study concludes that erosion poses a catastrophic threat to Ebonyi State's agricultural economic base that demands urgent multi-sectoral intervention. It is recommended that the state government accelerate erosion remediation works and integrate soil conservation education into agricultural extension services.

Keywords: Erosion, farmland loss, agricultural output, Ebonyi State, environmental externalities