International journal of Horticulture, Agriculture and Food science(IJHAF) [Vol-1, Issue-4, Nov-Dec, 2017] https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijhaf.1.4.5 ISSN: 2456-8635 www.aipublications.com/ijhaf Page | 29 Economic Impact Assessment of Social Protection Intervention Programme among Widow Farmers in the Flood Belt of Bayelsa State, Nigeria Achoja, Felix Odemero, Ebiwei, Isaac Zipamoere Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Nigeria. Abstract— The incidence of widowhood in this Bayelsa State is magnified by the loss of their spouses to militancy in the Niger Delta Region. This has assumed a worrisome dimension and has consequently attracted some level of intervention from government and donor agencies. It is important to assess the economic impact of such intervention of on the welfare of widow farmers in Bayelsa state. The broad objective of the study was to assess the economic impact of social protection intervention programme on widow farmers. Primary data were obtained with a combination of questionnaire and interview schedule. All the 37 registered widow farmers were involved in the study. Collected data were analysed using descriptive statistical tools, T- test and multiple regression analysis. The result shows that income of widow farmers was significantly higher (P < 0.05) after participation in social protection intervention programme. Percentage of benefiting widow farmers in the middle and upper classes increased. The Gini coefficient of 0.13 indicates a relatively even distribution of the impact of the programme among widow farmers. Cases of vulnerability to property loss flood hazards significantly (P < 0.05) reduced after participation in the programme. Social protection intervention progarmme had a multiplier effect on their households in the area of school enrolment (43% returned to school after the flood hazards and subsequent intervention); school drop-out rate reduced by 35%; and malnutrition of children of school age reduced by 62%. Intensity of participation of widow farmers significantly influenced effectiveness of the intervention prograrmme. This study has contributed to knowledge by establishing the linkages between social protection intervention programme and welfare upgrading of climate change-based-vulnerable widow farmers and their households. We recommended among others that widow farmers’ register in the state should be updated periodically to accommodate more widow farmers particularly in the rural areas and more stake holders should give of social protection support in addition to Bayelsa State Government. Keywords— Economic Assessment, Social Protection, Intervention, Programme Women Farmers, Bayelsa State. I. INTRODUCTION In recent years, Nigeria government had tried to developed social protection scheme in other to tackle poverty in the country, which is in no avail since the country is facing numerous challenges; thereby falling short of the needs of the poor and the vulnerable. This had led numbers of policies recommendations for government to develop on and strengthened (Odi, 2011). The recent food, fuel and financial crises amplifies many of the existing vulnerabilities facing the poor, and almost half of the population work in the agricultural sector, has a poverty rate of 62.7% (Ojowu et al., 2007). Nigeria has a low ranking according to OECD (The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), Social institutions and gender index had put inequalities in human capital and economic participation between men and women farmers. A mapping of current social protection on land-scape in Nigeria indicates that a significant number of actors are involved in finding and implementing social protection, including those from government, donor, international non-governmental organizations and civil society. Before now, no study has shown the actors that significantly contribute to the social protection of widows in Bayelsa State. There is therefore, the need to investigate the impact of the various actors/stakeholders on widow farmers in the study area, Widows are among the three quarter of the world’s poor and hungry in rural areas (USAID, 2005). In many African countries, widows undergo series of unruly circumstances as a result of their husband’s death. This has affected them psychologically, economically and financially; for them to cater for themselves and that of their households. Social protection is an intervention response to alleviate poverty. It is usually rendered by the Government and Development Partners in order to reduce