Sustainable Crop Production Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Summary
Coronavirus pandemic comes when the world is suffering from chronic hunger, about 820 million people are suffering from hunger and around 2 billion are suffering from malnutrition.[1] The pandemic has affected the supply chain of crop production due to transport problems as a result of lockdown. Farmers forced to throw away perishable goods that cannot be stored and destroy their crops. The problem is caused by a low supply chain as many schools and institutions have been closed. The prices of commodities such have wheat has declined. Poultry farmers have been greatly affected because of the misinformation on social media that the chicken is the carrier for the virus. During this pandemic, it is recommendable for the government to keep food chain supply functioning. Farmers to be protected against the pandemic and have been given access to the market. Government to promote trade by not banning exports nor restricting imports. Also, the implementation that leads to food shortages should be avoided.
Introduction
The effects of the pandemic are linked to the current invasion of pest and disease and desertification due to climate change. Before the COVID 19 pandemic sustainable development goals had laid down plans to increase agricultural production. The situation affects farmers thus the regime characterizes the policy on crop production which is more vulnerable to this pandemic. This policy is intended for decision-makers in undeveloped countries where food security and production are reinforced by small farmers.[2] The food and agriculture organization to assist these farmers to change to sustainable crop production increase to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 pandemic. The organization should enhance good infrastructure to ensure the faster and safe delivery of food. Another additional measure includes the is financial support from banks at lower interest to assist the informal workers like the farmers.
COVID 19 has negatively affected the economy leading to unemployment, low income, rural distress, malnutrition, and widespread inequality. Lacking regular income salaries among the informal worker and farmers face the hardest hit during the lockdown.
Short term and long-term impacts on sustainable crop production
The pandemic will affect the poorest and more vulnerable will experience more negative effects this includes smallholder farmers and the subsistence farmers.
The short-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainable crop production are the government enforcing lockdown. This has led to the inability of the farmers, farmers service providers, input suppliers and other people in this food sector system to perform their task. These problems manifest itself as farmers fail to grow their crops on time, use of optimal quality, and quantity of farm inputs such as seed, fertilizers, and pesticides.
Secondly, is the market and other services such as transport is disrupted. Farmers who produce perishable commodities like fruits and vegetables are more affected and are been forced to throw away. Restricted mobility has caused some high crops to rot in the fields and without adequate storage because the window time of selling is short in the market. Increased chances of losing some fruits and vegetables because they have a high risk of containing COVID -19. This results in farmers getting low income which in turn affects household food security.
Disruption of public services that support crop production such as fieldwork exhibitions, official supports services such as training and pest monitoring. Cross border disease and pest control monitoring in addition to regional cooperation have been affected.
Long term impacts on sustainable crop production
Food will be scarce as the farmers might have planted late or failure harvest on time this might result in a lack of quality seeds. The prolonged economy will affect a farmer’s ability to purchase other inputs and food that they cannot produce.
The problem possible solutions to support smallholder farmers
For the short-term problems for the disruptions that affect the food chain supply and production government incentive and policies to be the key to ensure that disruptions are reduced to the minimum. Some of the mitigation that the government might take include:
Adopting financial support to the farmers such as agriculture credit payment, reducing the interest on loans, and price control of essential goods.
Making sure that agricultural activities are done on time so that planting is not disrupted and crop harvesting is done on time. Ensuring that the farmers follow the agricultural calendar.
Managing human mobility such that the urban people returns to a rural area. Considering a technology production that replaces labour force. For example, the provision of mechanization services to improve the efficiency of operation and the value of the product is added by the agri-food.
Creating a mechanism to ensure that food supply includes the smallholder farmers can be done by creating selling points.
Utilizing real-time technology so that the farmers can get reliable information about market demand and prices of the commodities
Advocating and encouraging a simplified food chain supply and local food production.[3] To increase the availability of urban access local distribution should be done within the shorter supply chain.
Enhancing the implementation of an automated system for crop monitoring example the use of a remote sensor for monitoring the moisture content. Radars that monitor the movement of migratory insects.
Improvement of the data management analysis and forecasting to have effective planning. Also, facilitating the use of mobile phones to ask the risk of using some hazardous pesticides at no cost.
For the long-term impacts’ food and agricultural organizations and the government must target in ensuring that there are continuous food production and protection of the food chain.
There should be enforcement of law and regulation for strengthening sustainable food production to increase the food chain. FAO save and grow paradigm provides menu and interventions that countries might deploy to help sustainable food production and protection system.
1.farmers system should be implemented by using the following recommendation practice: permanent organic soil, minimum soil disturbance, efficient water management, this will provide large productivity, the socio-economic and environmental benefits to the farmer, and the society. Also, pastures, livestock, and trees should be integrated into the system. Key systems are the use of adequate farm power and equipment.
2.crop and variety: farmers need to improve crop variety that suits a wide range of agro-ecosystem and farming practices. Recommended measures might include crop improvement and seed supply, conservation of plant genetic resource and use of diverse plant breeding and finally increase participation of farmers in conversation[4].
3.crop protection deployment of resistant varieties to help manage the farming system and crop losses due to pest. Recommendation against disease includes practicing crop rotation to suppress the pathogen and removing infected host plants. To target control of pests, it is recommended to use low-risk synthetic pesticides. Timely weeding to avoid minimizing the cultivation of the surface residue. The use of bioagents, strict pesticide regulation, removal of pesticide residue, and farmers’ field school should be used to promote pest management.
4.soil health: to increase crop production soil rich in organic matters and biota is essential. To improve land husbandry, the following measure should be mitigated; establishment of national regulation for land husbandry, circulating information, and communicating benefits.
5.water management: accuracy technology in irrigation and farm follows that use an ecosystem approach to conserve water. Increased production depends on the ability to save water by using drought-tolerance practices. The major platform of sustainable intensification is water waste reuse and use knowledge-based precision irrigation which is flexible and reliable.
- enabling policies and institutions will encourage smallholder farmers to adopt sustainable crop production. Farmers need to be profitable this policy will ensure that there are no exploitations. policymakers also should encourage farmers to use natural resources to reduce expenses. Regulation should protect the farmers from corrupt deals who sell seeds and other farm inputs. The main investment is wanted to rebuilt research and technology in developing countries to offer farmers with the appropriate technologies and to provide skills to the farmers over farm field school.[5]
Conclusion
Food and agriculture organization and other plant production should support the farmers during this pandemic to stabilize food production and distribution.[6] During the crisis, farmers should be allowed to access farm inputs and machinery to increase the food supply chain.
When COVID 19 is the current issue affecting the world there is a need to build resilience to the economy, climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and pests, and diseases.[7] Policy environments must support the farmers due to long term effects to reduce risk, long term resilience, and emergency response.
As a result of the pandemic, few countries have limited export of grain so there is expected price increase in countries that are net importers such countries must focus in increase production, both in diversity and quantity.
This policy brief will be significant to the public because it will prevent an increase in prices of food commodities, reduce shortages of the food during the COVID -19 pandemic.
Appendices
Figure1.COVID -19 impact on food and agriculture.[8]
Farmers have been forced to throw away perishable crops such as vegetables and fruits because the virus can be easily be spread when in contact with these products. The pandemic affected the global food system hence affecting the agricultural supply chain and posing risks to the food security to the household.
From the figure below it is evident that the lockdown has affected the food supply chain, it is, therefore, advisable for the government to stop restriction of food, and farmers should be allowed to access the market.
Reference
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