Effects of Covid-19 on fresh fruit and vegetable production, retailing and consumption in Kenya

Following its outbreak in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple shocks to the Kenyan economy. The virus has affected the health and economic situation of the Kenyan population, due to virus containment restrictions, and behavioral changes such as in consumption. Certain efforts to limit the sp...

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Autores principales: Onyango, Kevin, Chege, Christine Gacheri Kiria, Billy, O., Kabach, J., Lundy, Mark M.
Formato: Informe técnico
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/117013
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author Onyango, Kevin
Chege, Christine Gacheri Kiria
Billy, O.
Kabach, J.
Lundy, Mark M.
author_browse Billy, O.
Chege, Christine Gacheri Kiria
Kabach, J.
Lundy, Mark M.
Onyango, Kevin
author_facet Onyango, Kevin
Chege, Christine Gacheri Kiria
Billy, O.
Kabach, J.
Lundy, Mark M.
author_sort Onyango, Kevin
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Following its outbreak in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple shocks to the Kenyan economy. The virus has affected the health and economic situation of the Kenyan population, due to virus containment restrictions, and behavioral changes such as in consumption. Certain efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 affected Kenya's agri-food supply chain, constraining the livelihoods of millions relying on the agri-food system. This study provides evidence that articulates the pandemic's implications based on primary data collected from 3,275 households consuming fruit and vegetables in Nairobi and Kisumu, 1,289 food retailers in Nairobi and Kisumu, and 1,025 producers of fruit and vegetables from Kiambu and Kisumu Counties in Kenya. The study examines the effects of COVID-19 on different food value-chain actors. A descriptive analysis was carried out to show how households have been affected in terms of socioeconomics, food security, and nutrition. Results show a general decline in food consumption, increased food costs, a switch in food purchase location, consumption of less-preferred foods, and a sharp decline in incomes among consumers. Food retailers reported increased food prices, inconsistent commodity supplies, labor adjustments, reduced sales due to curfews and lockdowns, higher losses, and business closures. Producers also reported lower dietary diversity, shifts in primary commodities produced, reduced use of farm inputs and general reduced production. Producers additionally, expressed difficulty in financing business activities, followed by cash flow issues resulting from order cutbacks. Farmers found it increasingly difficult to support production activities due to pandemic constraints to their cash flow. Because of different effects of the pandemic on the different value-chain actors, producers, consumers, and food retailers require different policies and approaches to tackle the situation. Interventions aimed at lowering food prices will contribute to improved food security and nutrition among consumers and improve trade thereby benefitting food traders and producers. Furthermore, measures and interventions to provide resources to enterprises, such as financial support, would significantly improve food environment and trade as well as food production.
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spelling CGSpace1170132025-08-15T13:22:06Z Effects of Covid-19 on fresh fruit and vegetable production, retailing and consumption in Kenya Onyango, Kevin Chege, Christine Gacheri Kiria Billy, O. Kabach, J. Lundy, Mark M. food chains consumer behaviour vegetable crops covid-19 retail markets cadena alimentaria comportamiento del consumidor hortalizas (plantas) Following its outbreak in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple shocks to the Kenyan economy. The virus has affected the health and economic situation of the Kenyan population, due to virus containment restrictions, and behavioral changes such as in consumption. Certain efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 affected Kenya's agri-food supply chain, constraining the livelihoods of millions relying on the agri-food system. This study provides evidence that articulates the pandemic's implications based on primary data collected from 3,275 households consuming fruit and vegetables in Nairobi and Kisumu, 1,289 food retailers in Nairobi and Kisumu, and 1,025 producers of fruit and vegetables from Kiambu and Kisumu Counties in Kenya. The study examines the effects of COVID-19 on different food value-chain actors. A descriptive analysis was carried out to show how households have been affected in terms of socioeconomics, food security, and nutrition. Results show a general decline in food consumption, increased food costs, a switch in food purchase location, consumption of less-preferred foods, and a sharp decline in incomes among consumers. Food retailers reported increased food prices, inconsistent commodity supplies, labor adjustments, reduced sales due to curfews and lockdowns, higher losses, and business closures. Producers also reported lower dietary diversity, shifts in primary commodities produced, reduced use of farm inputs and general reduced production. Producers additionally, expressed difficulty in financing business activities, followed by cash flow issues resulting from order cutbacks. Farmers found it increasingly difficult to support production activities due to pandemic constraints to their cash flow. Because of different effects of the pandemic on the different value-chain actors, producers, consumers, and food retailers require different policies and approaches to tackle the situation. Interventions aimed at lowering food prices will contribute to improved food security and nutrition among consumers and improve trade thereby benefitting food traders and producers. Furthermore, measures and interventions to provide resources to enterprises, such as financial support, would significantly improve food environment and trade as well as food production. 2021-12 2021-12-23T08:32:14Z 2021-12-23T08:32:14Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/117013 en Limited Access application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document Onyango, K.; Chege, C.G.K.; Billy, O.; Kabach, J.; Lundy, M. (2021) Effects of Covid-19 on fresh fruit and vegetable production, retailing and consumption in Kenya. Cali (Colombia): International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). 97 p.
spellingShingle food chains
consumer behaviour
vegetable crops
covid-19
retail markets
cadena alimentaria
comportamiento del consumidor
hortalizas (plantas)
Onyango, Kevin
Chege, Christine Gacheri Kiria
Billy, O.
Kabach, J.
Lundy, Mark M.
Effects of Covid-19 on fresh fruit and vegetable production, retailing and consumption in Kenya
title Effects of Covid-19 on fresh fruit and vegetable production, retailing and consumption in Kenya
title_full Effects of Covid-19 on fresh fruit and vegetable production, retailing and consumption in Kenya
title_fullStr Effects of Covid-19 on fresh fruit and vegetable production, retailing and consumption in Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Covid-19 on fresh fruit and vegetable production, retailing and consumption in Kenya
title_short Effects of Covid-19 on fresh fruit and vegetable production, retailing and consumption in Kenya
title_sort effects of covid 19 on fresh fruit and vegetable production retailing and consumption in kenya
topic food chains
consumer behaviour
vegetable crops
covid-19
retail markets
cadena alimentaria
comportamiento del consumidor
hortalizas (plantas)
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/117013
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