Covid-19: The socio-ecological disaster threatening rural farmer livelihoods

The Covid-19 pandemic is a socio-ecological disaster that has been caused by a web of factors including urbanization, biodiversity loss, the live animal trade and global travel (Barouki et al., 2020). Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions to the social and economic impacts of Covid-19, particularly in the way it is threatening rural farmer livelihoods by reducing food and water security.

Image by Miroslava Chrienova. Pixabay

Why is the region vulnerable?

Sub-Saharan Africa was already dealing with food insecurity before the onset of coronavirus due to drought-induced food shortages in the horn of Africa, locust invasion in Eastern Africa and floods in Southern Africa caused by cyclone Idai. The movement restrictions imposed by Sub-Saharan Africa as a control measure to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus has coincided with planting periods for many staple crops like rice and maize which may lead to food shortages (Ayanlade & Radeny, 2020). These crops are cultivated during the seasonal rainy period across March and April, so water is a key constraint and the timing of planting is vital. Currently, 95% of agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is rain-fed and thus at risk from these pandemic restrictions (Wani et al., 2009). Moreover, these measures have disrupted supply chains of essential farm inputs like supply seeds, agrochemicals, fertilisers and pesticides meaning farmers do not have the resources they need (World Bank, 2020). Due to border closures imposed by most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the harvest season has also been delayed due to labour shortages and input processors and importers are facing reduced working shifts and job losses (Willy et al., 2020).  

Job losses in Covid times in Sub-Saharan Africa based on the World Bank's Rapid Response Phone Surveys 

Overall, it is sub-Saharan Africa's over reliance on rain-fed agriculture that heightens its vulnerability to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a need for governments at all levels in SSA to develop strategies to reduce the impacts of Covid-19 on food systems in a coordinated policy response arrangement that protects commodity supply chains. More than this, there is an urgent need to protect rural farmer livelihoods in the era of the Anthropocene where global socio-ecological challenges are becoming even more present.