COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation strategies: implications on pig and poultry enterprise in Nigeria. (Special Issue: Covid-19 and climate change.)

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 is a novel disease, which has affected several people across the globe and with a heavy toll on the economy. The impact is yet to be fully quantified in the agricultural sector. In this study, the perceptions of pig and poultry farmers on the effects of the pandemic and coping mechanism during the lockdown period were investigated. A total of 108 farmers participated in this study. Structured questionnaires were administered to pig and poultry farmers (South-West Nigeria) electronically between June and July 2020. Information about knowledge of COVID-19, the effects on livestock enterprise and coping mechanism were obtained. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis. Most of the respondents (98.1%) had adequate knowledge of the mode of transmission as well as prevention of COVID-19. Majority of the respondents (87.4%) reported a reduction in their income during the lockdown period probably due to drop in sales (84% respondents) and livestock production (69.5% respondents), moderate to high increase in prices of livestock feeds (66.4% respondents) and inability to take farm products to market due to movement restriction policy. Most of the farmers (96.2%) reported that the government did not render adequate assistance to farmers during the lockdown. However, a few of the farmers (12%) did not suffer loss of revenue. Some of the farmers (22.4 - 62.5% respondents) had mild to moderate negative impact of COVID-19 on their farm due to the coping strategies practised during this period. In conclusion, there is need for appropriate intervention of the government and professional bodies during any pandemic to ensure the sustainability of pig and poultry industries.