Investigating a Food-Secure Future Through a Sustainable COVID-19 Recovery: Case Studies from India, Indonesia, and Nigeria

Abstract

In April 2020, the World Food Programme announced that without drastic change, the number of people facing food crises in the world might double in 2020 from 135 to 265 million people as a result of COVID-19 (World Food Programme, 2020). Under-resourced health, education, and transportation infrastructures make children, rural communities, and those living below the poverty line among the most vulnerable populations to food insecurity. With this in mind, our report aims to answer the following research question: How are economic consequences of COVID-19 affecting food supply chains and accessibility to food in India, Indonesia, and Nigeria? We focus our analysis on India, Indonesia, and Nigeria because their large populations and high level of economic dependence on the agriculture sector make them especially vulnerable to the current global crisis. Each case study is analyzed according to three sub-groups: farmer livelihoods, consumers, and economic and agricultural policy. Through comparing farmer livelihoods, consumer accessibility, and COVID-19 policy responses across case studies, we conclude with future recommendations to guide politicians, executives, leaders, and individuals with suggestions to create a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future. Among these recommendations, we suggest countries increase government support toward farmers, educate farmers, invest in women and children, increase climate protection policies, diversify and restructure food systems, create councils assigned to evaluate food accessibility, expand accessibility by improving communication networks, and harness agricultural innovations to reduce waste at all points of the supply change.  

Keywords: COVID-19, economic- and agricultural policy, food security, food supply chains, sustainable agriculture