Abstract
The emergence of COVID 19 coupled with the enforcement of its safety protocols, coincided with the peak of harvesting and saleof perishable vegetables in the 2020 dry season farming period in the Upper East Region of Ghana.Using a qualitative approach, this study investigates the effects of the pandemic on vegetable farmers along the White Volta River Basin in the Region. The findings are that there weredisrupted supply and demand in the production-consumption chain resulting in low sales; a shortage of hired labor; and high stigmatization. Farmers had few alternatives other than to leave their food stuff to rot on the farm, use the produce to feed livestock, or smuggleof the produce across borders. The implications are that the COVID 19 pandemic compounded the susceptibility of small-scale vegetable farmers in the region. Their resilience and household income levels are adversely affected.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus pandemic of 2019 (COVID 19) has so far been a threat to the global community
Various countries adopted mitigation measures to reduce the transmission while the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the crisis as a pandemic, which might have conveyed a sense of urgency in managing the diseases
This paper discusses the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic and the coping mechanisms adopted by green vegetable farmers along the White Volta Basin of the Upper East Region of Ghana
Summary
The novel coronavirus pandemic of 2019 (COVID 19) has so far been a threat to the global community. The effects of the safety protocols promoted in each country generate spillover effects throughout the supply chains and simultaneously disrupt both supply and demand (Nuno, 2020; Amewu etal., 2020) It disrupts agricultural input and output systems thereby further affecting the future supply of agricultural produce. The release allowed (i) farmers to continue their farming activities; (ii) farm input dealers could continue distribution and sales of inputs; (iii) food processing companies could continue production and distribution of their products; and (iv) subsidized fertilizer and seed subsidies could continue to be provided through the Planting for Food and Jobs program Despite this pronouncement, there existed reports of unavailability of food in some markets, instances of government security personnel restricting movements of traders of farm inputs and food despite their exempt status, and increased food losses in production areas and at markets due to supply chain challenges and low patronage (Amewu et al, 2020). The second and third sections cover the methodology of the study and the findings and discussions, respectively
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
