COVID-19 pandemic, household welfare and diversification strategies of smallholder farmers in Uganda

• Published in: Discover sustainability Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 303 - 16
• Main Authors: Osabuohien, Evans S., Karakara, Alhassan Abdul-Wakeel, Iddrisu, Abdul Malik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 27.09.2024; Springer Nature B.V; Springer
• Subjects: Africa; Agricultural risk; Agriculture; COVID-19; COVID-19 pandemic; Crop diseases; Disease transmission; Diversification; Earth and Environmental Science; Ebola virus; Economic activity; Environment; Epidemics; Farm households; Farmers; Farms; Fertilizers; Food security; Food supply; GDP; Gross Domestic Product; Households; Low income groups; Pandemics; Social distancing; Sustainable Development; Swine flu; Value chain; Welfare; Uganda; Burkina Faso; Africa; COVID-19 pandemic; Farm households; Q15; R14; Welfare; I31; Africa; Agricultural risk; O55
• ISSN: 2662-9984; 2662-9984
• DOI: 10.1007/s43621-024-00507-9

Agricultural activities in many sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are subject to various risk factors that the COVID-19 compounds. Earlier studies on the effect of COVID-19 on smallholders neglect the issue of comparison with non-farm households. The study uses micro-level household datasets to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on household welfare, with a focus on farm households relative to their non-farm counterparts. We employed a binary probit model and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) approach and demonstrated that farm households witnessed important income reductions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda. The study contributes to the design of evidence-based approaches to reducing farmers’ vulnerabilities to agricultural risks and pandemic-related shocks. Article highlights Farm households witnessed significant income reductions during the COVID-19 period in Uganda. Most common coping strategies adopted by households amid the COVID-19 crisis were reliance on savings, and reducing food consumption. The study offers suggestions in designing evidence-based approaches to reducing farmers’ vulnerabilities to agricultural or pandemic-related shocks.