Perceived effects of covid-19 lockdown on take-off of farming activities in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19 and the government policy measures like travel restrictions, lockdowns, and bans on economic and social activities, designed to stop the spread of coronavirus affected the take-off of farming activities in Nigeria. However, few studies have examined the effect of the COVID-19 epidemic on local agricultural production, with a focus on agricultural households. Using cross-sectional data collected from 74 farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria, the study examined the perceived effects of COVID-19 on the take-off of farming activities. Specifically, the paper elicits farmers’ perceptions and level of awareness of COVID-19, described the effects of COVID-19 on farming activities and the usage of labour and other inputs, identified interventions and support received by the farmers during the lockdown period. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results show that many of the farmers perceived cough as a symptom of COVID-19 and that they could contact it while carrying out their farm work. The level of awareness of COVID-19 was high (96%) and a majority (77%) got information on COVID-19 from radio only. About 51% perceived that COVID-19 affected their farming activities through post-harvest loss. The farmers rarely (8.11%) received any intervention or support from the government during the COVID-19 period. It can be concluded that COVID 19 pandemic had significant effects on the take-off of farming activities by farmers and little was done by government to support the farmers. The study recommends that during any lockdown, government and other development partners like non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should provide input support and short-term credit to farmer to enable them carry out their farming activities.