Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyse the impact of COVID-19 on the agricultural supply chains and markets in Zimbabwe and subsequent effect on livelihoods. The research methodology that was applied is a systematic literature survey anchored on inductive research approach. This article is based on the systematic review of secondary data sources, such as journals, policy reports, as well as reports from national and international organizations. The review involved a predetermined and comprehensive approach of searching, analyzing and synthesizing extant literature on agricultural supply chains. In general, the pandemic has affected the whole supply chain from the food production systems and input supply, the storage and distribution, processing and packaging as well as the retail and marketing aspect. The research showed that the COVID-19 pandemic severely threatens an already critical food security situation arising mainly from the prevailing poor macroeconomic conditions and consecutive years of drought in Zimbabwe. This has led to a higher than previously anticipated food insecure population, especially in urban centers. Over 70% of the workers are self-employed and a vast majority operate in the informal sector. The informally employed represent a significant breadwinner constituency, whose dependents comprise vulnerable sections of the populace. The restrictions on mobility and the closure of borders meant immediate loss of employment and income. The study revisited the previous viruses such as Ebola to extrapolate though marginally, the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using secondary sources and the general agriculture supply chain to guide understanding, the findings show that unless measures are put in place to safeguard farmers especially smallholder activities in Zimbabwe, COVID-19 has the potential to reproduce the same catastrophic implications created by Ebola in West Africa countries where peasant food systems where shattered and livelihoods strategies maimed.

摘要

本文的目的是分析 COVID-19 对津巴布韦农业供应链和市场的影响以及随后对生计的影响。所应用的研究方法是基于归纳研究方法的系统文献调查。本文基于对二级数据源的系统审查，例如期刊、政策报告以及来自国家和国际组织的报告。审查涉及搜索、分析和综合有关农业供应链的现有文献的预定和综合方法。总体而言，疫情对整个供应链的影响，包括食品生产系统和投入品供应、储存和配送、加工和包装以及零售和营销方面。研究表明，COVID-19 大流行严重威胁到本已危急的粮食安全形势，这主要是由于津巴布韦普遍存在的宏观经济状况不佳和连续多年的干旱造成的。这导致粮食不安全人口高于此前预期，尤其是在城市中心。超过 70% 的工人是个体经营者，绝大多数在非正规部门工作。非正规就业者代表了一个重要的养家糊口的选区，其家属包括民众中的弱势群体。对流动性的限制和边界的关闭意味着立即失去就业和收入。该研究重新审视了以前的病毒，例如埃博拉病毒，以稍微推断出 COVID-19 大流行的影响。