Impact of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) on Groundnut Production in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

  • Atoma C. N. Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro PMB 5, Delta State, Nigeria
  • Ovharhe O.J. Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba Delta State, Nigeria
  • Ohwinono, J. Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba Delta State, Nigeria
Keywords: COVID-19, Groundnut Production, Agriculture, Agricultural extension, Pandemic

Abstract

The overall purpose of this study was to examine the differences between agricultural extension activities before and during the pandemic among groundnut growers in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State. Questionnaires were used to collect primary data from the respondents of one hundred and eighteen (118) sample size. Both quantitative and qualitative measures were used to analyses data gathered. The main findings deduced were large proportion of the respondents were within the age range of 31-40 (32.8%) years. Most females gender household heads. 55.1% of the respondents which were found actively engaged in groundnut production in the area with large family size ranging from 1 – 4. The results obtained revealed that COVID-19 affected food security in groundnut production ( = 2.29), transportation and distribution ( = 2.54) and prices ( = 2.30) with weak extension activities before ( = 2.32) and during ( = 2.92) the pandemic. There were poor conduct of demonstration plots, ( = 1.80) and poor farm visit for technical supports ( = 1.83). The most major challenge imposed by COVID-19 was increase in hunger, malnutrition and death rate ( = 1.92). The greatest adjustment mechanism adopted by farmer during COVID-19 was acceptance of palliatives from government and non- governmental organization ( = 2.41). It was concluded that groundnut production, marketing, income availability and extension activities were below threshold levels during Covid-19 pandemic. It is recommended that adequate buffer funding should be provided during any pandemic to boost extension activities and reduce the effect of food shortages.

References

Abdul-Malik, J. (2020). COVID-19 Poses Unique Challenges for Cotton and Peanut Industry. https://www.gpb.org/news/2020/05/20/covid-19-poses-unique-challenges-for-cotton-and-peanut-industry. (Assessed: March 8, 2021)

Agumagu, A.C and Nwaoguvugwu, O.N. (2006). Extension agents’ commitment to extension work in Abia and River States, Nigeria. A journal of Agricultural extension Vol 2:51-59

Awerije, B.O. and Rahman, S. (2014). Profitability and efficiency of cassava production at the farm-level in Delta State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Management, 3, 212–218.

Devereux, S., Béné, C. and Hoddinott, J. (2020). Conceptualising COVID-19’s impacts on household food security. Food Security, 12(4), 769–772.

Dudek, M. and Spiewak, R. (2022). Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sustainable Food Systems: Lessons Learned for Public Policies? The Case of Poland. Agriculture 2022, 12, 61. https://doi.org/10.3390/ agriculture12010061.

Eferakeya, I., Ovharhe, O. J. and Okolie, J. O. (2022). COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria: The Emerging Economic and Social Impacts. PalArch’s Journal of Archeology of Egypt/ Egyptology, 19(1): 374 – 392.

Emaziye, P. O., and Ovharhe, O. J. (2021). Food Crisis and Covid-19 Adaptation Strategies by Cassava Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. Plant Cell Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, 22(5-6), 123-129.

Food and Agriculture Organization (2021). Impacts of COVID-19 on food security and nutrition: developing effective policy responses to address the hunger and malnutrition pandemic. Committee on Food Security (CFI) https://www.fao.org/3/cb1000en/cb1000en.pdf. (Assessed: March 8, 2021)

Food and Agriculture Organization. (2019). FAOSTAT. (http://faostat.fao.org)

Food and Agriculture Organization. (2020a). Question and Answer: Covid-19 pandemic impacts on food and agriculture. (http://www.fao.org)

Food and Agriculture Organization. (2020b). Extension and advisory services: at the frontline of the response to COVID-19 to ensure food security. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca8710en

Laborde, D, Martin,W, Swinnen,J, and Uos, R (2020). Covid-19 risk to global food security. Science 369:500-502

Nandi, R.; Nedumaran, S.; Selvaraj, A.; Datta Mazumdar, S.; Kumar, S. (2021). The COVID-19 Induced Disruptions across Groundnut Value Chain: Empirical Evidence from South India. Sustainability 2021, 13, 1707. https://doi.org/10.3390/

National Population Commission (2006). Nigerian Census. https://gazettes.africa/archive/ng/2009/ng-government-gazette no-2.pdf

Nnamdi, A.E. (2010). “Groundnut processing and trading in Nigeria” (http://www. Articlibase.com)

Ofuoku, A. U. (2019). Social inclusion of rural-rural migrant arable crop farmers and agriculture production in Delta State, Nigeria. Rural Society 28(2):144 – 160.

Ovharhe, O. J, Emaziye, P. O., Yarhere, E. O. and Enegesele, O. P. (2021a). Effects of the Delta-Songhai Centre Agricultural Programmes on Beneficiaries in Delta State, Nigeria: Youth Economic Empowerment Approaches. Yuzuncu Yil University Journal of Agricultural Science 31(2): 472– 486.

Ovharhe, O. J., Emaziye, P. O., Okpara, O., Agoda, S. and Benson, C. O. (2021b). Strategies adopted by maize farmers to minimize post-harvest losses in Delta State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Technology 17(1):237-256.

Taphee, G.B and Jongur, A.A.U. (2014). Productivity efficiency of government farming in Northern Taraba State, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability Vol 5:45-56

Taphee, G.B., Jongur, A.A.U., Adama, M. and Giroh, D. Y. (2015). Analysis of Profitability of Groundnut Production in Northern Part of Taraba State, Nigeria. International Journal of Computer Applications, 125(1): 34 – 45.

Talukdah, B., vanLoon, G. W., Hipel, K. W., & Orbinski, J. (2021). COVID-19’s implications on agri-food systems and human health in Bangladesh. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, 3(1): 12 -19.

World Health Organization. (2020). Novel Corona virus situation report. (https://www.whoint/emergencies/disease/novel-coronavirus.2019/situation-report)

Published
2022-04-30
Section
Biological Sciences