The impact of COVID-19 on agricultural extension and food supply in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The outbreak of the pandemic COVID-19 restricted normal execution of agricultural extension services and movement of agricultural produce to markets. Direct farmer access to extension services was limited due to travel restrictions and banning of public gatherings. The overall objective of the study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural extension and food supply as well as the effectiveness of the suggested coping strategies in Zimbabwe. A structured questionnaire was administered to 100 Agriculture extension officers through phone interviews in adherence to the COVID-19 regulations of minimizing close contact to reduce transmission. Key informant interviews were conducted through phone calls and emails. The study revealed that agricultural extension and food supply was grossly affected by COVID-19. Use of social groups for communication during lockdown helps to reduce spread of COVID-19. Researchers recommend the development of online marketing strategies where people can make orders of various produce and become booked for purchases or deliveries during a specified time range. This will go a long way in minimizing people coming together in large numbers and risk contracting COVID-19.

Program Development Skills Towards Work Performance of Extension Agent During Movement Control Order (MCO) in Peninsular Malaysia

“…Performance of extension agent was high before the MCO according to the previous study by Olagunju et al (2021). The declination of the growth of Malaysia's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) particularly in agriculture sector may be related with performance of extension agent during the pandemic due to 1 st MCO regulations supported by Prosper et al (2021) revealed in his research that agricultural extension and food supply was grossly affected by COVID-19 in Zimbabwe. However, study by Purwidyaningrum et al (2021) stated that performance of farming extension workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in East Java Province was quite good.…”

Post-Covid-19 pandemic extension delivery: A systematic review of E-extension services prospects in Ghana

“…The measures included social distancing, banning of public gatherings for funerals, festivals, conferences, group meetings, and a total lockdown in hotspot cities like Accra, Tema, Kasoa, and Kumasi [ 11 , 13 , 14 ]. While the measures were apt and timely, they negatively affected farmers and agricultural extension services engagement [ 14 , 15 ]. The restrictions obstructed the provision of agricultural extension services like workshops, field visits, training, and input distributions [ 14 ].…”

COVID-19 nationwide lockdown and disruptions in the food environment in Zimbabwe

“…Specifically, a 21 days lockdown was enforced starting on the 30 th of March 2020. During the COVID-19 induced lockdown only essential service providers were allowed to continue operating (Prosper Bright et al, 2021). Essential services exempted included security service personnel, healthcare professionals, agricultural product suppliers, retail shops and food outlets.…”

“…COVID-19 outbreak has raised serious concern to the food environment as food supply channels face major disruptions mainly caused by transport interruptions and measures implemented to curb transmission of the virus at food acquisition points (Harris et al, 2020;Hobbs, 2020;Prosper Bright et al, 2021;Di Renzo et al, 2020). Sheth (2020), noted that work-life boundaries are now blurred as people work at home, study at home, and relax at home leading to increase in food demand.…”

“…There is growing evidence of the implications of COVID-19 on food supply and nutrition (Harris et al, 2020;Hobbs, 2020;Prosper Bright et al, 2021;Sheth, 2020;Singh et al, 2021). However, the implications of COVID-19 pandemic on personal life and food environment has not been extensively analysed in the context of Zimbabwe.…”