‘VIRUS TO DEEPEN FOOD INSECURITY, POVERTY IN ASIA’

THE Covid-19 pandemic could worsen food insecurity and poverty in Asian countries, including the Philippines, as consumers lose access to nutritional food, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) said. In their latest policy brief, IRRI experts said Covid-induced lockdowns and other health safeguard measures implemented in the region have affected millions of rice value chain (RVC) actors or players.

The policy brief was authored by IRRI Country Representative for Bangladesh Humnath Bhandari, IRRI Agrifood Policy Platform Leader Jean Balié, IRRI Agricultural Economist Valerien Pede and IRRI South Asia Regional Representative Nafees Meah.

These measures, which range from stay-at-home orders, social distancing, mobility restriction to border closures, had “ripple effects” on RVC as economic activities have been either stalled or limited, the policy brief pointed out.

The IRRI experts also cited various factors that disrupted the RVC in recent months—limited or no access to inputs or services, labor and transport shortage, shortage of farm machinery and financial capital, trade and travel restrictions, income shock, and reduced food demand, among others.

The policy brief said disruptions in the RVC were felt in all of its segments, from production, processing, to marketing and consumption areas. The disruptions resulted in lower palay yield, decreased demand for milled rice, and higher food prices due to unavailability of staple stocks, among others.

“We observed significant impacts on the consumption of food in terms of lower demand, changed purchasing and consumption behavior, and increased food insecurity and malnutrition,” the policy brief read.

“The disruptions in food supply, the income drop, and food price hike will have a huge impact on food and nutrition security, especially for the poor. The existing large number of undernourished population in Asia (513 million according to pre-covid-19 estimates) is projected to increase significantly due to the pandemic,” it added.

IRRI experts noted that the 182 million very poor in Asia “fear starvation more than the Covid-19 pandemic.” The “true magnitude” of the adverse impacts of Covid-19 on the RVC, they said, will be “known in the medium to long terms.”

Nonetheless, the experts said rice production would likely decline in the short to medium term coupled with higher input prices, lower producer prices and higher consumer prices.

Trade restrictions, changes in consumption and marketing behaviors, rural unemployment and decreased household income are also expected in the short to medium term. But in the long term, the disruptions in RVC will “substantially impact” nine sustainable development goals (SDGS), including eradication of poverty and hunger and improved health and well-being, according to the policy brief.

“We fear that the pandemic will have significant negative impacts on SDG 1 (poverty), SDG 2 (hunger) and SDG 3 (health and well-being),” the authors said.

“Besides, huge negative impacts are foreseen on SDG 5 (gender), SDG 8 (economic growth), SDG 10 (inequality), SDG 12 (consumption and production), and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions). Interestingly, we are already observing and anticipating positive impacts on SDG 13 (climate) from reduced air pollution, lower greenhouse gases emissions, and decrease in the use of natural resources,” they added.

The IRRI experts recommended eight measures to mitigate the adverse impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic in the RVC.

The recommendations include ensuring access to inputs and services, minimizing supply-chain disruptions, promoting digital services, strengthening monitor of rice markets to avert artificial food shortages, implementing social safety nets and investing in rice research to improve resiliency of agri-food systems.