Perceived effects of COVID-19 on smallholder farmers’ agricultural production practices in Ethiopia

Abstract

This study analyzed the perceived effects of COVID-19 on smallholder farmers’ agricultural production practices in the South Wollo and Oromo Administrative Zones of Ethiopia. Data were collected from 270 randomly selected respondents from September 5 to October 10, 2020. Data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The severity of problems is analyzed using a four-point Likert scale. The quantitative data were analyzed using mean and one sample t-test, while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The one sample t-test result revealed that the respondents' level of agreement is statistically and significantly different from neutral in all cases at the 95 and 99% levels of confidence. These immediate problems caused the smallholder farmers to develop concerns about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Smallholder farmers in Jige faced challenges like a lack of markets, collaboration issues, delayed agricultural activities, spoilage of produce, labour issues, and increased input prices. The government and development practitioners should prioritize timely agricultural input delivery through cooperative unions, transfer of information and advisory services, and the marketing of agricultural products using alternative strategies. This research contributes evidence-based information for decision-makers to devise appropriate and locally adaptable policy documents for the given policy recommendations.

Keywords:

• agriculture
• COVID-19
• Ethiopia
• Likert scale
• perceived effect
• smallholder farmers

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Wollo University for funding the necessary budget for data collection. Our gratitude also goes to sample respondents, and different agricultural development organizations from zonal to kebele level for giving us necessary information about the study area and for their unlimited support by providing informed consent. We also thank data collectors for their unreserved efforts in the successful completion of data collection activities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Kolla (agroecological zone equivalent with lowland between 500–1500 m above sea level); Weynadega (middle land, between 1500 to 2300 m) and Dega (highland, between 2300 and 3200 m) (National Meteorological Agency (NMA) 2007).

2 Any temporary crop harvested between the months of Meskerm (September) and Yekatit (February) is considered as a meher season crop (CSA 2020a).

3 Any temporary crop harvested between the months of Megabit (March) and Pagume (August) is considered to be a Belg season crop (CSA 2020a).

4 Jige refers to informal organization of farmers for working together by sharing labour during the agricultural activities of ploughing, weeding, sowing, harvesting, and trashing.