Informality and the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda: Key findings and policy implications

This policy note summarizes results of a study on the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda, which are characterized by a high degree of informality. We use a stack survey consisting of 1525 smallholder maize farmers, 341 informal traders, and 174 millers that were surveyed in-person in...

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Autores principales: Nabwire, Leocardia, Van Campenhout, Bjorn
Formato: Brief
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141003
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author Nabwire, Leocardia
Van Campenhout, Bjorn
author_browse Nabwire, Leocardia
Van Campenhout, Bjorn
author_facet Nabwire, Leocardia
Van Campenhout, Bjorn
author_sort Nabwire, Leocardia
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This policy note summarizes results of a study on the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda, which are characterized by a high degree of informality. We use a stack survey consisting of 1525 smallholder maize farmers, 341 informal traders, and 174 millers that were surveyed in-person in 2019 as the basis for follow-up telephone interviews in 2020 and 2021. We find that the impact of COVID-19 and associated measures manifests itself more downstream the value chain (at the level of the traders and particularly the millers). Closures and reductions in volumes passing through the chain seemed limited but worsen as the pandemic persists. Government measures such as a reduction of interest rates seemed to have brought some relief for traders and millers. However, all value chain actors report substantial reductions in maize revenues, household income and food security, as actors in informal value chains seem to rely on various activities to make ends meet. As a result, informal value chains such as maize in Uganda may be less able to adapt to common shocks in the long run. The appropriate policy response therefore would be to supplement some of the mitigating policies targeting businesses with more long run social protection policies to also benefit value chain actors upstream.
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spelling CGSpace1410032025-12-08T10:06:44Z Informality and the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda: Key findings and policy implications Nabwire, Leocardia Van Campenhout, Bjorn value chains processes traders surveys policies covid-19 farmers social protection maize food institutions household income agriculture markets revenue This policy note summarizes results of a study on the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda, which are characterized by a high degree of informality. We use a stack survey consisting of 1525 smallholder maize farmers, 341 informal traders, and 174 millers that were surveyed in-person in 2019 as the basis for follow-up telephone interviews in 2020 and 2021. We find that the impact of COVID-19 and associated measures manifests itself more downstream the value chain (at the level of the traders and particularly the millers). Closures and reductions in volumes passing through the chain seemed limited but worsen as the pandemic persists. Government measures such as a reduction of interest rates seemed to have brought some relief for traders and millers. However, all value chain actors report substantial reductions in maize revenues, household income and food security, as actors in informal value chains seem to rely on various activities to make ends meet. As a result, informal value chains such as maize in Uganda may be less able to adapt to common shocks in the long run. The appropriate policy response therefore would be to supplement some of the mitigating policies targeting businesses with more long run social protection policies to also benefit value chain actors upstream. 2022-09-30 2024-04-12T13:37:04Z 2024-04-12T13:37:04Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141003 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141086 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Nabwire, Leocardia; and Van Campenhout, Bjorn. Informality and the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda: Key findings and policy implications. Policy Note February 2022. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136398.
spellingShingle value chains
processes
traders
surveys
policies
covid-19
farmers
social protection
maize
food
institutions
household income
agriculture
markets
revenue
Nabwire, Leocardia
Van Campenhout, Bjorn
Informality and the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda: Key findings and policy implications
title Informality and the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda: Key findings and policy implications
title_full Informality and the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda: Key findings and policy implications
title_fullStr Informality and the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda: Key findings and policy implications
title_full_unstemmed Informality and the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda: Key findings and policy implications
title_short Informality and the impact of COVID-19 on maize value chains in Uganda: Key findings and policy implications
title_sort informality and the impact of covid 19 on maize value chains in uganda key findings and policy implications
topic value chains
processes
traders
surveys
policies
covid-19
farmers
social protection
maize
food
institutions
household income
agriculture
markets
revenue
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/141003
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