Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Agri-Food Systems in West Africa

El Bilali, Hamid; Dambo, Lawali; Nanema, Jacques; Tietiambou, Sheirita Reine Fanta; Dan Guimbo, Iro; Nanema, Romaric Kiswendsida

doi:10.3390/su151310643

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 115 publications

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“…Demographic projections [36] clearly show that developing countries face the greatest food supply challenges, although developed countries also have a lot to do in this regard, as the concept of food security for the following decades has been supplemented with issues of food safety, food nutrition, and food preferences for an active and healthy life [37]. Currently, food security has been shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, reviving the ongoing discussion about the future of the world and the state of the nutrition of the population [38][39][40][41]. Both showed the weaknesses of the agricultural sector, an important element of which is its dependence on the situation in international markets.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Some Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Technical Efficiency—The Example of European Union Agriculture

Radlińska

2023

Sustainability

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The main objective of this article is to better understand the category of technical efficiency of agriculture. To achieve this goal, empirical research was carried out, the subject of which was to estimate the average technical efficiency of agriculture in the European Union in the years 2004–2020. The technical efficiency of agriculture was estimated using the Data Envelopment Analysis method–Cooper Rhodes Input Oriented model. In order to estimate the level of technical efficiency, the value of Total output was adopted as the output, and the following inputs were adopted: Total Utilized Agricultural Area, Fertilizers, Plant protection products, Total livestock units, Feed for grazing animals, Labor inputs, Machinery and equipment, and Gross expenditure on fixed assets. The conclusions from the literature review indicate that technical efficiency is the main determinant of economic efficiency. The conclusions from empirical research have shown that agriculture in the European Union is characterized by a high level of technical efficiency for 2004–2020, TE = 90.24%. Moreover, the technical efficiency of farms was checked according to classes of economic size. The obtained results only partially confirm that the increase in the economic size of a farm increases its technical efficiency, because the highest level of technical efficiency is characteristic of farms that belong to the classes very small and very large.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Some Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Technical Efficiency—The Example of European Union Agriculture

Radlińska

2023

Sustainability

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“…In a similar vein, Senegal's government launched food aid and emergency cash transfers to assist low-income families affected by the crisis (Bou€ et et al, 2021). Encouraging research on the pandemic's effects on West Africa is essential to developing the evidencebased policies required to increase the region's readiness for shocks and crises (El Bilali et al, 2023) that affect the informal sector, especially street hawkers. Similar to other countries within the sub-region, Ghana is one of the developing countries in West Africa that was hit by the COVID-19.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Livelihood resilience among street hawkers during Covid-19 lockdown in the Awutu Senya East Municipality, Ghana

Poku,

Sarkodie,

Mensah

et al. 2024

JHASS

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PurposeThe study assesses the livelihood resilience strategies among street hawkers during COVID-19 lockdown in the Awutu Senya East Municipality in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachUsing the explanatory case study approach, 12 participants (hawkers) were sampled with the aid of the purposive and convenience sampling techniques. An interview guide was used to collect data.FindingsThe study found that street hawking business, prior to the COVID-19 lockdown was a lucrative venture. The COVID-19 lockdown however had mental, psychological and economic effects on the street hawkers in ASEM causing stress, anxiety. loneliness, loss of business capital, and loss of jobs. Hawkers nevertheless demonstrated resilience in their psychological well-being by adopting strategies such as patronizing digital/social media platforms for funny content and entertainment. Hawkers also showed economic resilience through selling products on digital/social media platforms, relied on personal savings, received social support from family members and religious bodies. Government policies and interventions in the form of free water and electricity played a crucial role in building resilience of street hawkers during the COVID-19 lockdown.Practical implicationsThe study shows that hawking is a vital avenue for entrepreneurial engagement reducing barriers to entry in formal trading, hence should be considered as key economic venture in the country’s economy. Again, the findings of the study deepen the understanding of stakeholders on the effects of COVID-19 on the psychological and economic life of street hawkers and offers insights into managing both psychosocial and financial stress during crises, emphasizing the potential benefits of resilient strategies for more effective crisis management. The study findings provide insights for government and policymakers on the experiences and coping mechanisms of the vulnerable groups and communities, particularly hawkers during the pandemic.Originality/valueThe study qualitatively assesses the psychological and economic effects of the COVID-19 lockdown and the livelihood resilience strategies employed by street hawkers during the COVID-19 lockdown in ASEM, Ghana.

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Assessing climate resilience in rice production: measuring the impact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s IWRM scheme in the Senegal River Valley using remote sensing and machine learning

Fionnagáin,

Geever,

O’Farrell

et al. 2024

Environ. Res. Lett.

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Satellite remote sensing and machine learning can be combined to develop methods for measuring the impacts of climate change on biomass and agricultural systems. From 2015 to 2023, we applied this approach in a critical earth observation-based evaluation of the Irrigation and Water Resources Management component of the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Senegal Compact. This project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), was implemented in the Senegal River Valley from 2010 to 2015. Utilising these techniques, we successfully mapped rice cultivation areas, deciphered cropping practices, and analysed irrigation systems responses to different climatic conditions. A marked increase in cultivated rice area was found particularly in regions targeted by the project intervention. This is despite prolonged drought conditions which underscores a significant climate adaptation benefit from these irrigation works. We observed a notable dip in rice cultivation area in 2020, possibly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a recovery to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, likely aided by previously funded USAID's socio-economic resilience programmes in the region. Economic analysis of increased rice yields in the region translates to approximately US\$ 61.2 million in market value since 2015, highlighting the economic returns from the project investment. Both the remote sensing data and ground audits identify issues regarding post-project deterioration of irrigation infrastructure, emphasising the need for long-term maintenance of irrigation infrastructure to support climate adaptation benefits arising from irrigation. With a focus on crop irrigation, our findings stress the critical role of climate adaptation interventions for maintaining agricultural productivity in the face of adverse climate shocks. It further highlights the necessity of continuous investment and maintenance for ensuring climate resilient agrifood systems.

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Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Agri-Food Systems in West Africa

Cited by 4 publications

References 115 publications

Some Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Technical Efficiency—The Example of European Union Agriculture

Some Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Technical Efficiency—The Example of European Union Agriculture

Livelihood resilience among street hawkers during Covid-19 lockdown in the Awutu Senya East Municipality, Ghana

Assessing climate resilience in rice production: measuring the impact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s IWRM scheme in the Senegal River Valley using remote sensing and machine learning

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