Determinant of Food Security Within the COVID-19 Epidemic Circumstances- A Special Case of Chinese Agriculture Food Production and Distribution Industries

Abstract

PurposeSince the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic rises, it poses a catastrophic effect for the society and its development globally. These pandemic situations put global inhabitants under tremendous pressure to maintain a sufficient supply of nutrition and desirable food security. Agricultural food production and distribution industries may play a vital role in determining the current conditions of any countries food security and sustainable development goals. Design/methodology/approachSince an increasing number of people had been suffering from hunger and malnutrition before even the infection strikes, it could create more dangerous circumstances by creating a global food crisis if the immediate measure is not taken. This paper examines the determinants of food security within three distinct aspects (effective utilization of food, food availability, and food access) within the COVID-19 epidemic situation. For developing and validating the model, the empirical data was collected from the agricultural food supply industry in China (Shaanxi Province). Whereas, the core analytical assumption has made by employing the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modelling (SEM).FindingsAfter analyzing the data collected from 67 agricultural food productions and distribution personnel along with the hypothesis testing, it has found that determinants of the effective utilization if food aspects are positively related to the determinants of food availability and food access aspects, and the determinants of food availability are positively related to the food access determinants. OriginalityThis research will be helpful to the government and industry in developing policies and strategies for the successful implementation of all the associated determinants of food security in terms of the epidemic situation.

The Impact of Covid-19 on Logistics and the Associated Disruptions

“…One such study (Sarkar et al, 2020) focused on the issues related to food security wherein the determinants of the food security were studied and analyzed with the help of factor analysis. [8] In India, due to several restrictions, the transportation system had taken a hit. The 2nd or 3rd day of the lockdown saw the most severe effect of COVID-19 when operation of trucks reduced by more than 90%.…”