COVID-19 in Rural India, Algeria, and Morocco: A Feminist Analysis of Small-Scale Farmers' and Agricultural Laborers' Experiences and Inventive Practices

Abstract

In this paper we present a situated analysis of the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the life of small-scale farmers and agricultural laborers in India, Algeria, and Morocco. We draw on data collected through phone interviews since April 2020. Inspired by feminist scholars, we analyze our findings thinking with—and entangling—the concepts of intersectionality, resilience and care. We firstly document the material impacts of the lockdown measures, focusing particularly on the experiences of single women farmers and laborers, whose livelihood and well-being have been notably compromised. Secondly, we unfold how different agricultural actors have come up with inventive ways to respond to the unexpected situation which they are facing. In doing so, we highlight the importance of considering the multiple and entangled socionatural challenges, uncertainties, and marginalizations that different agricultural actors experience, as well as the transformative potential of their inventive practices, which are often motivated and informed by notions of care.

Household Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity during COVID-19 in Tanzania

“…The emerging literature on the impact of COVID-19 broadly agrees that the pandemic has increased food insecurity in different parts of the world (Béné, 2020 ; Caballero-anthony et al, 2020 ; Devereux et al, 2020 ; Leonardelli et al, 2021 ). The poor and vulnerable groups have suffered the most during COVID-19.…”

Entre vulnérabilité et résilience : le vécu de la pandémie de Covid-19 dans deux sociétés oasiennes du Maghreb

“…En conséquence, en accord avec d'autres travaux (Cote et Nightingale, 2012 ;Leonardelli et al, 2021), nous soutenons la nécessité de mobiliser le concept de résilience avec précaution. En effet, ce concept est souvent dépolitisé et mobilisé sans remettre en cause les origines de la crise et ses dimensions de pouvoir (Ibidem).…”

“…En milieu rural, ces mesures sont arrivées en pleine campagne de récolte et de commercialisation des pastèques (avril) et des céréales (avrilmai). Toutefois, l'intérêt médiatique et scientifique a principalement porté sur les expériences des citadins, tandis que les travaux sur le vécu des ruraux sont restés rares (Mahdi, 2020 ;Hamamouche et Saidani, 2020 ;Kadiri, 2020 ;Leonardelli et al, 2021). Pourtant, la population rurale constitue 37 % de la population marocaine et 27 % de la population algérienne (Banque Mondiale, 2019) ; l'agriculture joue un rôle économique capital, paradoxe d'un secteur qui offre beaucoup d'emplois (et garantit la sécurité alimentaire) tout en étant caractérisé par le sous-emploi (Amichi et al, 2015).…”

Together Strong or Falling Apart? Coping with COVID-19 in Smallholder Irrigated Agriculture

“…Some of the literature highlights the disruption of agricultural supply and value chains due to lack of transport (Gray, 2020;Kerr, 2020;Nchanji et al, 2021), others focus on the shortage and increased cost of labour (Schmidhuber, Pound, & Qiao, 2020;Shrestha et al, 2020;Torero, 2020) or the increased food insecurity as a result of the disruptions (Gatto & Islam, 2021;Kim, Kim, & Park, 2020;Organization, 2020;Workie, Mackolil, Nyika, & Ramadas, 2020). A number of papers share concerns about increasing inequities as a result of the measures put in place by governments in attempts to control the pandemic (Bellwood-Howard & Dancer, 2021;Leonardelli et al, 2021;Ragasa, Lambrecht, Mahrt, Aung, & Wang, 2021;Takeshima, 2021). Most of the abovementioned studies take a global, regional, or national perspective while only very few consider the everyday lifeon the farm -as unit of the analysis (for notable exceptions, see Borkowski et al, 2021;Leonardelli et al, 2021;Pišot et al, 2020).…”