Abstract

Over the last two decades, the world has been confronted with several outbreaks of infectious diseases. Ebola, influenza A (H1N1), SARS, MERS, Zika and most recently, COVID-19, have had a serious global impact on economic instability, local and global public resources and above all, people's health. As the effect of COVID-19 is significant to the world market, it has also indirectly impacted the agricultural sector and hence has significantly exposed the strengths and limitations of the farming systems in terms of resiliency, production and food security which offers important lessons for policymakers. Hence, this study was conducted to analyse the impact of COVID-19 pandemics on the agricultural industry especially the smallholders who are more vulnerable during or postpandemic due to the lack of resilient supply networks, low periphery of market access and limited production. In doing so, a survey was conducted, which began in May 2020, consisting of online questions that contain information about the impact of COVID-19 on the smallholding sector and the challenges faced by smallholders including crops, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture in Malaysia. A total sample of 217 smallholders or farmers from several states in Peninsular Malaysia was obtained within the Movement Control Order (MCO) period and later extended to the Conditional MCO (CMCO). Almost 86% of respondents answered that COVID-19 had heavily affected agriculturerelated activities in Malaysia. Using a principal component analysis, our findings reveal four major issues or challenges those farmers faced during the MCO/CMCO namely income, uncertainties of supply and price, logistics and marketing activities.

Highlights

  • The agriculture sector plays an important role in the growth and development of the nation

  • The data was gained by conducting an online survey, with the help of a structured questionnaire provided to selected smallholders in Malaysia

  • Agricultural supplies have been disrupted through the closure of local markets and restaurants, combined with the limited capacity of farmers to store harvested crops that have led to wastage and spoilage of perishables

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Summary

Introduction

The agriculture sector plays an important role in the growth and development of the nation. It is directly and indirectly connected to other industries and has the main objective of supporting the overall growth and development of the economy. According to Food and Agriculture Organizations (2020), COVID-19 is going to affect agriculture in two key aspects: food supply and demand. These two aspects are directly linked to food security; food security is at risk. While Stephens et al (2020) further elucidated the impact could substantially reduce demand for restaurant and commercial food services in combination with labour, processing capability and/or storage constraints leading to farmers discarding their production. The quarantine or restricted movement order is affecting labour availability for key time-critical farming from sowing vegetable plants to picking fruits

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