This project studied the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on eight food value chains in three countries: okra, tomatoes, and dairy in Burkina Faso; maize and dairy in Uganda; and rice, fish, and shrimp in Bangladesh. The project carried out two rounds of a survey of small-scale farmers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in trade and processing. The interviews were carried out using phone interviews and structured questionnaires, which included a common core across commodities and countries. The results indicate that few farms and SMEs permanently closed, but many closed temporarily. Most reported loss of customers, business revenue, and household income, affecting food security. Access to credit was more limited during the pandemic, but many farms and SMEs did not have access to credit even before Covid-19. Among the various policy measures undertaken to control the spread of the virus, movement restrictions were reported to have had the most adverse effect on the respondents’ farms and businesses, and therefore on their livelihoods. The worst effects were recorded in the first round of the survey, with a partial rebound on most indicators in the second round.
Samson Dejene
Research Analyst, Markets,
Trade, and Institutions
