How Does COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Rice Yield? Lessons from, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

At the global level and particularly across sub-Saharan African (SSA), while rice farmers are still battling the negative impact of climate change and greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new risk that not only threatens farmers livelihoods but also the most important global food security crop “Rice”. Every farming season in Nigeria, rice farmers face risks such as low rainfall, price volatility, methane emissions, rising debts and poor government policies. But the present risks from the COVID-19 pandemic are putting new challenges in front of rice value-chain that is already under serious threat. Additionally, the growing demand for rice across SSA and particularly in Nigeria exceeds supply, resulting in a rice deficit. To overcome this challenge, rice yield should be increased particularly now there is a new threat for farmers. As a matter of urgency, farmers must respond to this new threat (COVID-19) by choosing measures that increase their yield. Incidentally, empirical studies that documented the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on rice yield cannot be found as at the time of this study. These create emptiness in research and make it extremely difficult if not impossible for the government/interest group to know the method they can use in helping farmers mitigate the negative effect of COVID-19 pandemic in rice production. It was against this backdrop that this study was systematically undertaken. The study was meticulously guided five (5) objectives. The survey was conducted from March through July 2020. A cross-sectional data was elicited from 504 rice farmers selected across Southeast Nigeria. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as means, flow-chart, percentage and likert scale-type. Mean age was 45.00 years. Greater proportions (61.30%) were male. A very salient finding was that COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting activities of rice value-chain like harvesting of 2019/2020 season’s produce that was ongoing and land preparations and planting for 2020/2021 season (x̄=≥3.11). Result show that the non-availability of labour is interrupting planting, harvesting and distribution activities of rice (x̄=≥3.32). There are disruptions in purchase of inputs because of restrictions (x̄=≥3.12). Findings also developed incisive conceptual framework showing the effect of COVID-19 pandemic in rice farming. Result also shows that extension visits to farmers have been seriously limited (85.32% had no visit) due restrictions. With this present threat, Nigeria are likely to experience a reversal in the development gains already achieved and will be unlikely to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the aspirations of African Agenda 2063. The study therefore identified the need for governments at all levels in the country to design a sustainable policy in such a way that farmers should have access to affordable farm credit as well as subsidized agricultural inputs in order to increase their ability and flexibility to change in production strategies in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19 Pandemic; Rice; Conceptual Framework; Socio-economic Variables; Awareness; Source of Information; Precautionary Measure; Perceived effect of COVID-19 Pandemic; Barriers; Recommendations; Southeast Nigeria and sub-Saharan African (SSA), DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-15-06 Publication date: August 31 st 2020