Abstract
Realizing the gravity of COVID-19 pandemic, the governments around the world have been putting in place a range of policies and strategies to resume their food security level. Among varies of agricultural productions, most affected sectors are livestock farming, horticulture production. In this line, understanding the impact of COVID-19 on horticulture system is likely to become more widely and deeply felt in agricultural sectors and national economies. This study aims to highlight potential risks faced by; outlines the overall functioning of Sri Lankan horticulture sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss policies need to change going forward to safeguard Sri Lankan horticulture sector from similar shocks in the future. The production and market data gathered from Agricultural Statistics, Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI), Department of Census and Statistics and Export Development Board which were gathered over years between 2016 and 2020. The data contain production quantity, average cultivated extent, retail and wholesale price per Kg, export quantity and value of fruit and vegetable products. Descriptive analysis methods used as the primary analysis techniques. The results imply that there is no declining pattern of all vegetables and fruits production volume. From the retail prices and wholesale prices, we can materialize that the supply chains in the agricultural products have strained to keep up, first with panic buying, followed by forced changes in food consumption patterns and immediate declined with the dropdown in purchasing power. The agricultural export sector is seemed to experience smaller trade impacts, most agricultural exports have continued to reach consumers in international markets. The pandemic is driving some changes that will likely remain part of the future agricultural practices. These include encouraging home garden practices, shifts in online marketing and selling platform, having higher demand for stable and safe food, a greater awareness of supply chain risks, increasing use of digital trade systems and the risk of creeping protectionism. Accordingly, agriculture policies need to change to safeguard of Sri Lankan horticulture sector from similar shocks in the future.
Highlights
COVID-19 pandemic has caused an irreversible loss of mankind all over the world
This study aims to highlight potential risks faced by; outlines the overall functioning of Sri Lankan horticulture sector during the COVID19 pandemic and discuss policies need to change going forward to safeguard Sri Lankan horticulture sector from similar shocks in the future
The production and market data gathered from Agricultural Statistics, Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI), Department of Census and Statistics and Export Development Board which were gathered over years between 2016 and 2020
Summary
Realizing the gravity of COVID-19 pandemic, every country has commenced special steps to limit the spread of the virus and fight against the pandemic; mostly with involving social distancing, selfisolation and restriction in travel and trade. All these fights against the pandemic have infinitely affected the major economic sectors such as agriculture, tourism, education, hospitality and so on. In line with observations of the COVID-19 pandemic combat, the UNFAO, WHO and World Trade Organization (WTO) issued a joint statement that uncertainty about food availability could spark a wave of export restrictions, creating shortages on the global market [4] A similar conclusion has been reached by the WTO by publishing three scenarios for a global recovery in world trade, termed: V-shaped, with a short-term recovery of only 3 months, Ushaped, with slightly longer recovery of 6 months, and L-shaped, mapping potential impacts from a longer recovery timeline of over 12 months [5]
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