A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW ON IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, FOOD SECURITY AND RURAL LIVELIHOODS IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is facing severe economic challenges as it has slowed down human activities all over the world. COVID-19 spread rapidly after the first occurrence of infection was identified on December 31, 2019 in China and it has massive consequences on the health and livelihoods of the people of developing country es like Bangladesh. Food security and livelihoods are the most important aspects of agri-food systems. Besides human health concern, agricultural productivity is declined and food security is threatened globally. The basic aim of this paper is to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on agricultural productivity, food security and rural livelihoods in the context of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, the farming activities and food supply process are greatly disrupted during the lockdown period of March to May 2020. The marginal and smallholder farmers aside by the rural areas in Bangladesh characterized by poor socio-economic condition are so much vulnerable during this crisis period. As a result, the rural poor farmers are the worst sufferers and faces a wide range of constraints throughout the process of crop cultivation, harvesting and marketing. Furthermore, the disruption of demand and supply chain causes low market price of agricultural products accounts for enormous economic loss of farmers. Therefore, the government of Bangladesh should act promptly and undertake combined initiatives involving all the concerned departments to mitigate the adverse effects of pandemic on agri-economy and food systems in Bangladesh.