Governance response during COVID-19 and political affirmative action: evidence from local governments in India. (Special Issue: Local governments in pandemic response.)

A great deal of work argues that the entry of women into public spaces can promote political and institutional change. The COVID-19 provides an opportunity to investigate whether and under what conditions women's political representation in rural local governments deliver effective local governance? Drawing from two rounds of data collected in 174 local governments and 1051 households in three Indian states, the paper shows that women Pradhans in the Gram Panchayats had no differential impact on the governance response to COVID-19 compared to the unreserved ones. Analyzing the heterogeneity in these responses suggests that institutional factors like the proportion of women in village council and local entrepreneurship diversity can enhance women Pradhan's capacity to respond to the pandemic. We explore two channels that enable women Pradhan to govern effectively during the pandemic: improving women's participation in the labor force and reducing household's vulnerability to poverty in the pre-COVID period.

Milk donation and pandemic: human milk as a global good

The human milk donation has been an undervalued and very biasedly examined subject until relatively recently, in comparison with other types of human donation (organs, tissues, fluids), not being recognized its dimension of bodily altruistic and philanthropic act in the same way as other (mildly) analogous realities, as well as in its approach from the perspective of feminist and gender studies. On the other hand, although the COVID-19 pandemic and the various lockdown processes have had an onerous impact on human breastfeeding in general, we find data on the global increase in breastfeeding donation as a specific altruistic gesture during the pandemic in Spain and, even, on the decisions in the most complicated moments of the state of alarm about donating one's own milk in the tragedy of perinatal death. These altruistic donations contribute to carrying out the fulfillment of what has already been declared a human right and one of the social investments with the most advantageous cost-benefit index. The recognized, intensified and amplified need for milk banks in a pandemic brings to the fore in a specific way the condition of human milk as capital physiological resource, and, ultimately, as a global good. This article is dedicated to delving into a critical hermeneutics of milk donation in light of the pandemic and as an opportunity to rethink the studies of recent decades in this regard.

Emergency food aid and household food security during COVID-19: evidence from a field survey in Senegal

The effectiveness of food aid in reducing household food insecurity in developing countries has been extensively examined in previous studies. This study explores this issue in the context of COVID-19, using the example of emergency food aid provided by the Senegalese government. Field survey data were collected from 4500 recipients and non-recipients, and the matching method was used to examine whether there was a significant difference between the two groups. Several dimensions of food insecurity were explored through five indicators: the food consumption score and the coping strategies index from the World Food Programme and three indicators of simple, moderate and severe food insecurity based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale of the US Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The results show that government aid has a negative and significant impact on the diversity and nutritional value of beneficiary households' diets. Nevertheless, this programme prevented the use of extreme coping strategies. Furthermore, government aid has a positive impact on food security as measured by negative experiences related to food access. Ultimately, despite low nutritional intake, the programme had a positive effect on recipients' food access compared with non-beneficiaries. Therefore, for future interventions, the government should promote local and more nutritious products to sustainably improve food security.

South Sudan emergency livelihood response programme 2021-2023

The situation in South Sudan has proven to be unpredictable and volatile. New hotspots of violent conflict and civil unrest have continued to emerge and levels of severe acute food insecurity have become progressively worse. In addition to years of fighting and political instability, the country faces natural hazards, disease and pests, such as the desert locust, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Collectively, these risks have had and continue to have a catastrophic impact on the lives and livelihoods of South Sudanese, the majority of whom rely on agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries as their main source of income. To respond to humanitarian needs, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched the latest iteration of its Emergency Livelihood Response Programme (ELRP) in South Sudan, which was first introduced in early 2014. The document presents the multiyear Programme for 2021-2023 and outlines how FAO aims to save lives, to enhance households' livelihoods and own food production, and to improve their resilience to future shocks. FAO revises its strategy each year to address the ever-emerging challenges facing food security and agriculture, integrate lessons learned and adapt modalities to the prevailing situation.

PNAE and actions in the State of Rio de Janeiro during the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic brought impacts of several types, among them it affected the execution of the National School Feeding Program (PNAE), demanding adaptations of strategies and regulations for the continuity of food supply to Brazilian students enrolled in the public school network. This study aimed to recognize the strategies for implementing the PNAE in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), its limits and contributions to the promotion of Food and Nutritional Security for students from Rio de Janeiro, and to analyze the regulations related to the management of the program in the pandemic. A cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out, with an online questionnaire being applied to the executing entities (EEx) of the PNAE in the state of RJ from March to July 2020. Most of the EEx continued the PNAE, adopting as a priority the delivery of food kits and the transfer of financial resources, carried out through intersectoral partnerships and with the participation of nutritionists, education workers and School Feeding Councils;however, sometimes violating the PNAE guidelines, regarding universality, equity and purchase of foodstuffs from family farming. It was concluded that many implementing entities did not fulfill or partially fulfilled the PNAE objectives in the first half of 2020, enhancing the high prevalence of food insecurity observed in the country.

Advancing the contributions of European stakeholders in farming systems to transitions to agroecology. (Special Issue: Insights into transitions to agroecological farming.)

The concept of a 'just transition' is gaining traction in international policy discourses. It has particular significance in relation to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions and the need for ensuring rights and responsibilities of all actors in transitions to agroecological farming systems. Research plays an important role in accompanying this transformation. It explores pathways for more sustainable and fair food systems, barriers to them being achieved, and where and what risks arise for communities of interest and of place. Researchers and practitioners across levels and sectors were brought together in H2020 projects LIFT and UNISECO using processes of stakeholder engagement. Both projects analysed the perceptions of actors towards agroecological farming, and their active involvement in the transitions required. This article summarises lessons learnt regarding multi-actor engagement in different participatory settings in both projects, including a Multi-Actor Platform approach, Q method, DELPHI and Hybrid forum workshops. The interactions involved several hundred actors from 18 countries across Europe. The article reflects on implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on the processes and effectiveness of multi-actor engagement, and assessments of the impacts on the empowerment of the actors. The findings are contextualised by contemporary European Union and national policy objectives of tackling climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and inequalities.

COVID-19-related state aid programs for agriculture in Poland

Agriculture is a sector in which economic policy has an exceptionally significant influence. The paper aims to identify, discuss, and assess the actions taken by the Polish state (government) concerning agriculture in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. We use data on state aid for agriculture in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic from the European Commission, the National Bank of Poland (NBP), and the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture (ARMA). The research period covers 2020-2021. Polish state has taken several measures concerning agriculture to limit the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These anti-COVID-19 state measures covered: e.g. aid for farms at risk of losing liquidity, intervention purchases of agricultural products, subsidies to interest rates on banking loans, loans, guarantees and loan sureties, subsidies for the costs of employee salaries, allowances for rent or lease, subsidies or repayable assistance, exemption for farmers from paying social security contributions, children care benefits, sick benefits for the quarantine period. Public financial aid for agriculture with the highest value (2/3 of the aid for farmers) came from the RDP 2014-2020 program, i.e., EUR 270 million. Moreover, under state aid, ARMA implemented three programs with approximately a total value. EUR 135 million, i.e., financial aid for agricultural producers facing liquidity losses due to restrictions on the agricultural market, financial aid for the holders of chrysanthemums who have suffered losses due to market restrictions, and financial aid to pig producers. More than 90% of the submitted applications were approved as part of the national state aid. Such a large percentage of accepted applications, both from the RDP 2014-2020 and state programs, resulted from the willingness of the Polish state to help farmers quickly.

Circular agriculture - a new paradigm of economic development

One of the key challenges in the coming years is to produce enough safe and nutritious food for the future generations without exceeding the planetary reserves even more. In circular agriculture, waste is seen as a raw material to produce new valuable products, including crops, food, feed and energy. Another characteristic of the concept is the need to reduce the consumption of resources and discharges into the environment. This article analyzes the concept of circular agriculture as well as the necessary government policies for implementing this concept as the development paradigm. It is highly recommended for governments to promote circular agriculture, especially in the post COVID-19 period, as means to improve different objectives, including better environmental conditions, climate change mitigation, public health, etc. It is also recommended to support and facilitate the development of circular economy principles as well as to implement best practices from existing initiatives around the world.

Women and adolescent girls' experience with COVID-19 in rural Senegal. (Policy Note.)

Senegal reported its first case of COVID-19 on 2 March 2020. The government responded within two weeks, introducing preventive measures to slow the spread of the virus, including the declaration of a public health emergency, border closures, and the prohibition of intercity travel and gatherings. This brief presents the results of a telephone survey conducted approximately three months after the declaration of the state of emergency and shows how Senegalese women and adolescent girls (n=3003) living in rural areas have experienced the crisis. Survey results are discussed under the following headings: (1) preventive measures;(2) aid and assistance;(3) information and perceptions;(4) consequences of COVID-19;and (5) trends in food security and women's wellbeing.

Impacts of COVID-19 on food banks

This study investigated how food banks in the USA were affected by the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results revealed that interest in food banks in mid-2020 was better predicted by unemployment than by COVID-19 cases. It was also found that food distribution at banks increased by an average of 44%;wait times also increased at most food banks.

Building provincial capacity for sustainable agricultural mechanisation in Nepal

This project was originally envisaged as an 18-month development-oriented project based in Provinces 1 and 2 of the Nepal Terai. It aimed to build solidarity and teamwork around the drive for agri-mechanisation in each of these two provincial governments. Unfortunately, the short time frame paired with intensive efforts to establish new relationships and then the onset of COVID-19 meant that there was limited scope to deeply develop these new relationships and fully build the envisaged roadmap process and plans. Regardless of this, the project has made some essential steps in improving provincial agri-mechanisation planning and implementation, including: (1) substantial capacity developed though placement of engineering experts within the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), the Ministries of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives (MoLMAC), various cooperatives and agricultural knowledge centres;(2) new and deepened relationships with and between key stakeholders, and particularly between NARC and provincial government, as well as with and between various cooperatives;(3) development of the first quantification of the status of agri-mechanisation on the Nepal Terai - indicating that there is high potential for rapid mechanisation if some key constraints are addressed;(4) publication of the learnings for a review of mechanisation in India and Bangladesh, and what that means for Nepal's agri-mechanisation planning;(5) regional learnings and new collaborations with various stakeholders in Nepal and West Bengal;(6) a national symposium on agri-mechanisation on the Nepal Terai, with a large number of supported individuals attending and learning from the national Agrimechanisation Fair;(7) development of a "roadmap" process that can be used more widely with additional further development;and (8) technical guidance and relationship building to improve the scaling of government supported custom hire centres in Province 1.

Sweet success in farm tourism and beekeeping

It is reported that agritourism and beekeeping have weathered the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pacific region to emerge as key strengths of the second phase of the Pacific Agribusiness Research in Development Initiative (PARDI 2). This ACIAR-supported project is mentoring and training farmers, and building capacity for farmer organisations, to develop agribusinesses in the Pacific region. Development of business skills in agritourism and beekeeping is supporting farm business sustainability and profitability. Connecting new and expanding businesses to mentors and advisers is also building knowledge and facilitating industry development.

Leveraging the 'Banking on Nutrition' partnership initiative in Africa

This article describes how an ongoing nutrition-smart programming approach was employed by the African Development Bank and harnessed as part of its COVID-19 response intervention.

Prioritising emergency response preparedness: Global Nutrition Cluster supports countries to plan for potential humanitarian crises

This article describes how an ongoing nutrition-smart programming approach was employed by the African Development Bank and harnessed as part of its COVID-19 response intervention.

The food and nutrition assistance landscape: fiscal year 2021 annual report

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers 15 domestic food and nutrition assistance programs that together affect the lives of millions of people and account for roughly two-thirds of USDA's annual budget. In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, USDA launched additional temporary programs and implemented numerous policy changes that expanded the scope and coverage of existing programs. Together, these initiatives contributed to higher spending on food and nutrition assistance programs in fiscal year (FY) 2021 (October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021), which amounted to a historical high of $182.5 billion. This report uses preliminary data from USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to examine program trends and policy changes in USDA's largest U.S. food and nutrition assistance programs through FY 2021.

Response of fish farmers to aquaculture development program in Segodorejo, Sumobito, Jombang

Segodorejo Village located in Sumobito Subdistric, Jombang Regency, East Java Province. This village is affected by the COVID 19 Pandemic. The economy is experiencing a process of sluggishness as a result of the pandemic. The "doctor serves" program is done to overcome the problems of youth efforts in fishery cultivation. The research aims to analyze the effectiveness and success of the activities of the serving doctor who has been carried out. The research design using survey methods with questionnaire instruments. The data obtained were analyzed descriptively in the form of characteristics of fish farmers to the program. The results showed some aspects of fish farmers observed to be obtained, namely: most are classified as productive age, education is relatively low and moderate with the average education in vocational/high school, the main job is private, on average has run a business with a length of business time between 5-14 months, and most cultivators have two ponds. Furthermore, the cultivator's response to the program was influenced by age, education, occupation, length of effort, time and respondent's number of pools. This study concludes that the activities of the "Doctor of Service" program are responded to well and associated with increased business and economy.

Revision and update of markets for the poor (M4) and Agribusiness Master Class (AMC)

This project set out to review and update the "Making Value Chains Work Better for the Poor" Toolbook (M4P Toolbook) and the ACIAR Agribusiness Master Class (AMC) capacity development program. These revisions had a particular focus on mainstreaming and integrating contemporary thinking and approaches about value chain research, as well as gender equity, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment. The SRA also sought to explore more sustainable delivery models that integrate rapidly evolving remote and online learning approaches and technologies. An important rationale for this project was the need to progress capacity development programs such as the AMC, that are more cost-efficient, more flexible, and more accessible to a wider range of remotely located participants. The project aim therefore was to develop innovative agribusiness research learning resources and delivery models for the Asia Pacific that specifically mainstreams contemporary gender equity, social inclusion and women's economic empowerment principles and approaches. The project had three main objectives: 1. Review and update the M4P Value Chain Toolbook and case studies: 2. Review and improve the content, format, and delivery of the Agribusiness Master Classes;and 3. Develop a community of practice and explore business models for delivery of M4P Value Chain Toolbook and Agribusiness Master Class program throughout the Asia-Pacific The project contributes towards a wider goal of building capacity in agribusiness researchfor-development methods of young researchers, development specialists and innovative agribusiness operators. A fully revised print-ready 4th edition of the "Making Value Chains Work Better for the Poor" (M4P Toolbook) has been completed. It will be published in English1 and Vietnamese2 . The Toolbook provides value chain practitioners with updated practical tools for value chain analysis, with a stronger focus on poverty, gender, and social inclusion. This updated Toolbook provides robust analytical tools to identify value chain interventions that are inclusive and beneficial to the poor, to both women and men, or to other disadvantaged groups. The Toolbook will provide a valuable reference to research and development professionals for many years and is an added resource for the AMC program. As part of this project the AMC program and materials have been revised, updated, and reformatted. Numerous case-studies and activities have been included. Delivery Notes have been provided for all presentations. These materials have been adapted and suitable for both face-to-face and online delivery. The COVID -19 pandemic has prompted a surge in improvements and adoption of video conferencing, online collaboration, and webinar software apps to support remote engagement and learning. This provides a huge opportunity for ACIAR, University partners and remote collaborators to deliver new high quality, online and blended agribusiness learning, and capability development programs for developing country participants. Platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom also provide the opportunity to efficiently engage external facilitators and mentors, as well as world class researchers and agribusiness specialists in a learning program. However, remote, and online collaboration and learning, cannot always replace the richness of face-to-face interaction and relationship building, along with the considerable benefit of peer-to-peer learning. Which is why experiential components such as the Mini-Project, agribusiness, field, and market visits, and visiting speaker contributions remain very important for adult learning.

Pockets of resilience - the digital responses of youth collectives in contemporary art museums during lockdown. (Special Issue: Snapshot: documenting museum education during intersecting pandemics.)

When museums across the world closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and staff struggled to rethink their new roles in a challenging and unprecedented context, youth collectives - long-term programs for teens and young adults, aged 15-24 - reinvented themselves. The focus of my research is the digital projects developed during lockdown by youth collectives in three metropolitan contemporary art museums. These include MOCA Teens, the MCA Youth Committee and Duchamp & Sons, based, respectively, at LA MOCA (U.S.A.), MCA Australia, and Whitechapel Gallery (U.K.). They adjusted quickly to the new digital pace and devised creative communication and mediation strategies that allowed their collaborative work to continue online. For this research, I combined the analysis of the digital content they produced - websites, social media and podcasts - with interviews I did with the museum educators leading each program. The success of these projects is grounded on a shared trust between museums, educators, and participants.

Government transfers, COVID-19 shock, and food insecurity: evidence from rural households in India

The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the lives and livelihoods of people around the world. The impact of COVID-19 has been especially devastating for low-income families in rural areas of India. Food insecurity became pervasive in rural areas soon after the nationwide lockdown was announced, as many families relied on daily wage work to fund basic necessities. By providing cash transfers and the additional foodgrains, Indian policymakers acted swiftly to reduce the financial impact on family income and consumption. This paper investigates the factors affecting the participation of rural families in the cash transfer program and the effect of government cash transfers on food insecurity. Results indicate that the government cash transfer program in India decreased moderate food insecurity by 2.4% and severe food insecurity by about 0.92%.

Baseline update for U.S. farm income and government costs

Higher commodity prices contribute to a sharp increase in U.S. net farm income in 2021. Under current policies, farm income could drop again in 2022, as government payments decline and production expenses continue to rise. This report utilizes commodity supply, demand and price projections from the FAPRI-MU baseline update released in early September 2021 (FAPRI-MU Report #04-21, available at www.fapri.missouri.edu). Historical data are from USDA and include the revision to farm income accounts released by the Economic Research Service (ERS) on September 2, 2021. These baseline estimates reflect policies in place in late August 2021. It utilizes ERS estimates that farmers will receive about $18 billion in 2021 from pandemic-related programs such as the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), the Pandemic Assistance for Producers (PAP) initiative, and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). No further ad hoc assistance is assumed for 2022 and subsequent years, nor do these current-policy projections include any payments that might result from prospective legislation. Given the assumptions of the analysis, here are a few highlights of the results: * Projected 2021 net farm income reaches the highest level since 2013. Relative to 2020, a sharp increase in receipts from sales of crop and livestock products more than offsets the impact of higher production expenses and reduced government payments. * At $122 billion, projected 2021 net farm income exceeds that reported by ERS by several billion dollars. FAPRI-MU and ERS estimates of 2021 livestock sector receipts, government payments and production expenses are similar, but FAPRI-MU estimates higher receipts for corn, soybeans and other crops. * Total projected government spending on farm-related programs reaches a record $52 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2021. Spending on pandemic-related programs accounts for most of the outlays. Spending on 2018 farm bill commodity and crop insurance programs account for less than one-third of total expenditures on the selected programs in FY 2021. * Under current policies, government outlays drop to $22 billion in FY 2022, and government payments to farmers fall from $29 billion in calendar year 2021 to $6 billion in 2022. Conservation programs account for most 2022 government payments. * Projected market prices for several crops peak in the 2021/22 marketing year. As a result, feed grain and oilseed market receipts decline after 2021, but remain well above the levels of 2020. * In contrast, receipts for cattle, dairy and poultry all continue to increase each year. Hog receipts jump in 2021 with sharply higher barrow and gilt prices and then fall back in 2022 as prices moderate. * Higher costs for feed, purchased livestock, fertilizer and other farm inputs raise farm production expenses by $27 billion in 2021, and a smaller increase is projected for 2022. * In 2022, net farm income declines by $23 billion and net cash income falls even more sharply. Reduced government payments and higher production expenses explain the decline, as there is little net change in farm receipts. * In later years, projected net farm income remains fairly steady in nominal terms at just under $100 billion each year. After adjusting for inflation, real net farm income declines each year, and the projected value in 2026 is similar to that in 2019. * Rising asset values and slower growth in debt reduce the sector's debt-to-asset ratio in 2021 and 2022, temporarily reversing the trend of previous years. Lower projected farm income halts the rise in farm real estate values in 2023, and the debt-to-asset ratio again begins to increase. In contrast to the 2021 FAPRI baseline prepared earlier this year, these estimates do not consider market uncertainty. Small proportional changes in market receipts or production expenses can dramatically change the outlook for net income.