India’s Food Supply Chain during the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and food security in low- and middle-income countries: a review

“…The authors also survey 50 food retailers who report operational challenges associated with sourcing inventory. In addition, Lowe et al [40] find that food arrivals in India's food wholesale markets fell dramatically and food wholesale prices increased in 3 weeks following India's national lockdown. Six weeks after India's lockdown, however, food arrivals and prices had fully recovered and reverted to pre-pandemic levels.…”

“…Six weeks after India's lockdown, however, food arrivals and prices had fully recovered and reverted to pre-pandemic levels. The evidence documented by Narayanan and Saha [44] and Lowe et al [40] highlight how a strict lockdown, like the one implemented by India, can lead to deep shortterm changes in food supply and food prices. However, even in the case of India's strict lockdown, Lowe et al [40] shows that the food supply chain was relatively resilient after an initial disruption.…”

“…The potential difference in changes in food insecurity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic between urban and rural areas may be related to differences in how urban and rural households experience market disruptions. For instance, Narayanan and Saha [44], Lowe et al [40], and Wiseman [54] document changes in food supply and increased food prices associated with market disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes may have differing implications for food insecurity depending on whether households are net-buyers or net-sellers of food.…”