The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic is threatening food security as experts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said lockdowns and restrictions on public transport are hampering food production.
In an Asian Development Blog, ADB Principal Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist Hans Woldring and Principal Knowledge Sharing and Services Specialist Susann Roth said the pandemic could cut food output in the next three to six months.
Woldring and Roth said the spread of Covid-19 has caused farm labor shortages since workers could not travel to farms, are sick, or busy taking care of family members who are ill.
“This will affect the timeliness of farm operations, and the ability to complete various farm operations. Fertilizer shortages are being reported as supply chains in the production and transport phases are disrupted, and this will translate to a reduction in crop yields,” they said.
Supporting farmers and helping ADB’s Developing Member Countries (DMC) achieve food security is crucial at this point given that protectionist policies have not been abandoned at this time.
Woldring and Roth said there are countries that are considering the implementation of rice export bans, similar to that in 2011. The authors said these export bans were responsible for the price hikes that year.
They said these are just some of the risks that the region’s food and nutrition security will face. Woldring and Roth said “additional tensions” are expected to ensue in the coming months and years.
“While the focus of most governments is presently on health, financial and economic impacts, planning is required today to avoid higher food prices, impact on populations’ nutrition status and reduced food security,” they said.
To prevent price spikes and food shortages, the experts are urging governments to focus on ensuring the supply of staple food products as well as fruit and vegetables.
Woldring and Roth also recommended the opening of countries’ borders and the regular revision of lockdown policies to ensure that transport links remain open, particularly for food processors.
To help farmers, the ADB experts said the government can extend bonus payments per ton delivered or have a matching grant programs for rapid adoption of proven and simple farm drying and storage technologies to reduce losses.
The authors also said governments must prioritize policies and investments that would boost food production value chains to prevent any price hikes.
“Reducing shocks in the food supply chain will help contain food price rises and will be a lower cost solution than managing food shortages, higher prices and the risk of social instability. The time to act is now, not later,” they said.