Covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic and its damaging health impact in addition to the lives it is claiming across the globe has become the preoccupation of governments. In other words, the fight against the pandemic has become the priority of the political leaders the world over. The situation is such that without prudent planning and the financial muscle, other sectors of the economy could be neglected to the hurt of the governed. This is why the Ghanaian Times wishes to commend the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and, for that matter, the government for the decision by MoFA to increase farm mechanisation centres in the country this year, as part of efforts to boost agricultural productivity.

In summary, the discovery of SARS-CoV-2 on food or food packaging may raise concerns about food safety, but it doesn’t indicate a risk for public health. Therefore it should not be a basis for restricting food trade or initiating a food recall. Thinking about the food supply chain in a connected way  integrating health, food security and sustainability will be an important part of controlling any future pandemics.

Typically, a choice between farm work and a career in an urban area has exemplified a big dilemma for rural youth in Uganda. Although the former choice has made a good showing, the duel has only seen one winner. As a result, a mass exodus of young people to urban areas has ensued, carrying with them the dynamism and innovation required to revive the rural economy. Consequently, the lure of city life has made a large number of the youth feel significant disenchantment with working in the agricultural sector.

Following its examination of COVID-19 and the New Risks to Food Security and Nutrition, the Feed the Future Enabling Environment for Food Security (EEFS) project looked into how challenges in the enabling environment from the COVID-19 crisis have impacted food systems in developing countries. Throughout the series, EEFS presents feedback from its remote survey of private sector partners operating in Feed the Future countries.

The first installment of the series examined impacts on grain and oilseed systems in Uganda, the second installment focused on impacts to the poultry system in Ethiopia, and the third installment looked at challenges in the enabling environment for meat and dairy systems in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. This fourth and final installment examines the impacts on agri-input systems and the potential knock-on effects on smallholder production systems

In Zambia, a farmer is asking herself how she will buy fertilizer as the price of imported goods skyrockets. The managers of a Tanzanian flour mill are fretting about how to keep production lines in operation when they can’t source replacement parts from countries under lockdown. Outside Nairobi, the owner of a small corner shop is wondering how to maintain sales when her customers have lost their income and the store’s hours of operations are restricted.

These are all scenes of African food businesses struggling to cope with the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. And while the pandemic will have far-reaching effects around the world, one of the most significant threats it poses is to global and local food systems.

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in early 2020, Feed the Future tapped into its global network of agribusiness partners to learn first-hand how they were responding in five critical business operation areas: production, sales, liquidity and financing, workforce, and decision-making. Their responses, captured in our five-part infographic and article series, revealed how pandemic-driven movement restrictions, supply change breakdowns, and plummeting sales created significant short and long-term challenges.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted both the importance and fragility of global supply chains. From nasal testing swabs to medications, and bicycles to toilet paper, shutdowns and border controls have made it clear that businesses need to thoroughly understand where their products are sourced and how to deploy their inventories most effectively.

As the largest economy and the most populous country on this rich continent, Nigeria truly has a golden opportunity to lead the march and set benchmarks for how African countries should reshape their economies and prepare their industry in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This evidence report seeks to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the operations of agricultural small and medium enterprises (agri-SMEs) by analysing emerging global evidence and insights from six countries. These are Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA)'s three focus countries (Malawi, Nepal, and Uganda), as well as Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria. 

A rapid response quick reference guide to identifying, developing, and deploying web-based strategies to sell your farm products during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

This aticle emphasizes the important entry point for sustainable agri-food enterprises during and post-COVID-19

The corona pandemic shows us in a very throbbing way how intertwined the private sector, government and the people are. For many companies, in the formal and informal sector, it is pure survival.