Smallholder farmer perceptions about the impact of COVID-19 on agriculture and livelihoods in Senegal

Abstract

Context: The global COVID-19 pandemic has produced a variety of unanticipated shocks to farming and socio-economic systems around the world. In case of Senegal, the country was already facing number of challenges at the inception of the pandemic, including high rates of poverty, prevalence of food insecurity, combined with other biophysical and socioeconomic challenges faced generally in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective: To understand farmer perceptions of the potential impacts of COVID-19 on agricultural systems and social well-being of smallholder farmers in Senegal. Particular attention was given to potential vulnerabilities and resilience in the targeted farming systems.

Methods: A survey was developed to better understand smallholder farmer perceptions regarding the anticipated impacts of COVID-19 on their agriculture practices and social well-being. The survey was administered (between June 5 and June 20) with smallholder farmers (n = 872) in 14 regions covering all agroecological zones. Variables of interest included perceptions of potential impact on farming systems, agricultural productivity, communities, economics, markets, labor, gendered division of labor, food security, and community well-being.

Results and conclusions: Across the three farming systems examined (cropping, livestock, and horticulture) significant majorities expressed concerns related to access to inputs, ability to plant (cropping, horticulture), reduction of yields (cropping, horticulture), ability to feed livestock, ability to sell livestock, and the ability to hire labor (horticulture). The majority of respondents also expressed concern that COVID-19 would make it more difficult to get enough food on a regular basis for their household (82.5%); that the markets where they purchase food will either be closed or significantly disrupted (79.5%); that the price of food would increase (73.5%); and the market where they sell their produce/livestock will be either closed or significantly disrupted (73.2%).

Significance: Anticipated impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture will be felt on both the biophysical aspects such as production and access to inputs and socioeconomic aspects such as access to labor, markets, or rapid shifts in demand. Results support the need to use farming systems approach to gather perceived and actual impacts of COVID-19 and warrants a more in-depth examination of agronomic and biophysical issues as well as the impact on the livelihoods and social well-being of families at community and household levels. Further examination will help identify the characteristics that strengthen smallholder farming systems resilience to adjust to anticipated and unanticipated shocks, such as COVID-19, to decrease the negative impacts and increase the rate of recovery.

Keywords: COVID-19; Farming systems; Resilience; Senegal; Smallholder farmers.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

Fourteen districts in Senegal (https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/senegal, n.d).

Fig. 2

Major crops grown among the survey respondents. Note: Respondents received this item if they indicated their farm was “primarily crops” or “diversified crops, vegetables, and livestock” (n = 734) and could select all applicable crop options. Responses in “Other” include: fonio (n = 7) and sesame (n = 3).

Fig. 3

Anticipated reduction in crop yields in the upcoming harvest season. Note. Respondents received this item if they indicated their farm was “primarily crops” or “diversified crops, vegetables, and livestock” (n = 731).

Fig. 4

Main vegetables grown among the respondents of the survey (n = 67). Note: respondents received this item if they indicated their farm was “primarily horticultural or vegetables” or “diversified crops, vegetables, and livestock” (n = 67) and could select all applicable vegetable options. Responses in “Other” were: eggplant (n = 7); carrots (n = 5); bissap (n = 1); cucumber (n = 1); peanut (n = 1); piment and others (n = 1). One respondent that selected “Other” did not describe the other type of vegetable.

Fig. 5

Confidence in access to off-farm labor throughout the coming agricultural cycle. Note: Totals are based on the number of survey respondents for this question (n = 868).

Fig. 6

Confidence for ability to hire off-farm labor workers by location. Note. Respondents could select all applicable locations. Totals are based on the number of survey respondents (n = 885). Other responses (n = 28) were related to a variation of not being able to hire labor.

Fig. 7

Perceptions of potential outcomes for youth due to COVID-19 (n = 868).