ABSTRACT
The global pandemic has hit small farmers with disruptions in health, food security, transport, finance and demand. It has also increased the cost of doing business. For small farmers in developing countries, this has meant threats to health and food security, rising transport and production costs, huge logistical bottlenecks, input ruptures, drops (and sometimes increases) in demand, and uncertain cash flow and access to finance. Hence this study was conducted to examine the coping strategies for COVID-19 pandemic among leafy vegetables farmers in Epe LGA, Lagos State Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed in selecting 98 leafy vegetables farmers for the study. Data for the study were collected from through questionnaire administered through interview schedule. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as Chi square and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation (PPMC). Result of the study showed that more than two-third (66.3%) of respondents were married with an average age of 46 years, and average household size of 4 persons. Most (100%) of respondents were aware of the fact that COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prices of food items, awareness level on Border closure (x ̅= 2.92), trade restriction (x ̅= 2.77). Farmers were aware of how COVID-19 has caused inability to access market (x ̅= 3.09), inability to buy inputs (x ̅= 2.83). The coping strategies adopted by vegetables farmer in managing the COVID-19 pandemic were avoiding unnecessary outings (x ̅= 3.18), wearing of mask at all times (x ̅= 2.87), Avoid mass gathering (x ̅= 2.89), stocking of food stuffs (x ̅ = 2.79), distress sales of assets (x ̅= 2.90), predatory loans (x ̅= 2.85). major constraints encountered by respondents were Lack of access to labour (x ̅= 2.80), Scarcity of inputs (x ̅= 2.55), Low patronage (x ̅= 2.65), Hike in transportation cost (x ̅= 2.90), Hike in food prices (x ̅= 2.46), Lack of access to Agricultural loans (x ̅= 2.66), Decrease in demand for Agricultural products (x ̅= 2.71). results showed that that farmers’ perception on the pandemic did not influence (r = -0.097; p = 0.340) their choices of coping strategies adopted in managing the impact of the pandemic. It was concluded that there was a great impact of the pandemic on farming household and respondents adopted various coping strategies and did not receive any assistance from the government as palliatives or incentives for loss of resources and productive due to restriction of movement. It was recommended that to stave off this dire and long-term outcome of the pandemic on farmers, policy-making efforts need to consolidate the role played by farmers in food security and hence farmers should be seen as essential workers and given survival funds to sustain the food value chain.
