Impact assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic on the income and food security of rice smallholder producers in five African countries

The world population has experienced several challenges due to different measures, including complete lockdowns, which were taken to contain the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This paper assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural household livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa. Data were collected from 2705 rice smallholder producers in five countries (Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Madagascar) and analyzed using fixed-effect regression models. The results showed that 81% of respondents perceived that their income had decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to production inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and herbicides has become more difficult and expensive. Approximately 45% of the rice farmers reported having difficulty obtaining agricultural extension services. Although the short-term impact on food security was not significant, we found evidence that the pandemic decreased the income of rice farmers by approximately US$ 240 per month. To support smallholder producers against the effects of future pandemics, income-enhancing actions, such as increasing access to credit and subsidies for agricultural inputs, should be prioritized.