Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food system in Abeshge District, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction:

The agricultural-food system delivery chain, which connects producers to consumers, incorporates on-farm activities in production and distribution. The chain has faced a challenge during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (Fan et al., 2021). It is essential to address COVID-19’s existing and potential impacts on the agri-food sector from the perspectives of both food supply and food demand. In this commentary, I report on a study conducted in 2021 to assess the effect of COVID-19 on the food system both in production and distribution aspects in the Abeshge District of central Ethiopia. The survey revealed that residents in the district had an average level of food consumption during the outbreak of COVID-19. The survey also suggests that COVID-19–related restrictions launched by the Ethiopian government could hamper crop value chains, with negative effects on farmers’ income from food production and distribution.