Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Agricultural Crop Production in Onitsha Agricultural Zone of Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper ascertained the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on crop production in the Onitsha agricultural zone, Anambra State, Nigeria. Data were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire distributed to 120 respondents randomly selected from a list of 1200 farmers in the zone. Descriptive tools such as percentages and mean scores were used to analyze the data. The results obtained showed that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on crop production in the area include shortage of farm labor (M = 3.40), hindered purchase of labor for farmwork (M = 3.55), leads to deficiency in raw materials (M = 3.53), halt monitoring of crop pests and disease in the field (M = 3.30), disruption in the crop production cycle (M = 3.60), harvest/post-harvest activity stoppage (M = 3.50), failure to plant crops in the field (M = 3.46), failure to carry out varied cultural practices (M = 3.10), among others. Several strategies were adopted for improvement. Among these strategies were provision of food storage warehouses (M = 2.73), the creation of improved food market channels (M = 2.76), food sharing opportunities (M = 2.70), the provision of financial aid to vulnerable farmers (M = 2.80), and encourage the local food supply chain (M = 2.70), among others. This study therefore recommends that the government and non–governmental organizations should provide the necessary aid needed for improvement in post-COVID-19 crop production.