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CPED POLICY BRIEF SERIES

2021 NO. 2
PREFACE
This policy brief is the second in the series
of communication to policy and decision
THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 makers on the rapid assessment project of
CONTAINMENT MEASURES ON LOCAL the Centre for Population and
FOOD MARKETING IN DELTA STATE, Environmental Development (CPED) titled
NIGERIA. “The impact of Covid-19 on local food
production and informal food markets in
Nigeria with Niger Delta region as case
By study” funded by the International
Development Research Centre (IDRC).
PROJECT PROFILE CPED’s policy brief series is designed to
Project Title: “The Impact of Covid-19 on local draw attention of key stakeholders to key
food production and informal food markets in
findings and their policy implications as
Nigeria with Niger Delta region as case study”
projects are being executed. This edition
Funding: International Development Research which focuses on the effects of covid-19
Centre (IDRC) containment measures on local food
markets in the Niger Delta communities is
Implementing Organization: Centre for based mainly on the reports and key
Population and Environmental Development
findings in ten target areas where the covid-
(CPED)
19 research project is being implemented in
CONTACT INFORMATION Delta state.
Professor Emeritus Andrew G. Onokerhoraye,
Executive Director, CPED We are very grateful to IDRC for the support
Email: to implement this project. We are
particularly grateful to the Programme
Engr. Job I. Eronmhonsele, Deputy Executive Officer in charge of our project, Dr. Melanie
Director, CPED Robertson, for her support to CPED which
has enabled the Centre to continue
Email: loyaltyisgood@yahoo.co.uk,
Mobile Phone: +234 8080472801 implementation of the research project and
the publication of this policy brief. We also
appreciate the cooperation of leaders of
various groups and community-based
organisations in the target communities for
their collaboration with CPED in the
implementation of the project.

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disruptions are driven primarily by

BACKGROUND restrictions put in place to curb the spread
As COVID-19 reaches different parts of of the virus. There are emerging signs of the
Nigeria sometime in February 2020, Federal negative impact of covid-19 on nutrition
and State Governments made efforts to and food security including local food
contain the spread of the virus. At the production and the informal economy’s
national level, the Nigerian Centre for food marketing system. This report
Disease Control (NCDC) is designated as the contributes to a better picture of how
government agency in charge of covid-19 covid-19 and measures to contain the virus
preparedness and response activities. A are impacting livelihoods, especially those
corona-virus Preparedness Group was of the vulnerable households, food security
established at the end of January 2020 by and access to markets in the Niger Delta
the Nigerian government following the region of Nigeria.
development of the epidemic in China.
National NGOs, civil society organisations, The agricultural food system is one of the
international NGOs and UN agencies were largest economic sectors in Nigeria,
also engaged in responding to the pandemic spanning production, industry and
and the effects of covid-19 containment marketing services, especially after the ban
measures. Since mid-March 2020, Federal on the importation of food by the
and State Governments in Nigeria have put government in 2015. It is also one of the
in place several measures to prevent, leading job producers in Nigeria. Indeed,
mitigate, and respond to the spread of over 80 per cent of all food sales in the
covid-19 across the country. These include country is carried out through the informal
lockdowns, movement restrictions, social food markets. Given the structure and the
and physical distancing measures, as well as largely informal food production and
public health measures. The distribution of marketing systems in Nigeria, governments
cases among the various states in Nigeria is will have to cater for the informal food
uneven and has resulted in diversified marketing channels and also put in place
response from the federal and state measures to make them operate
governments. The degree of consistently with the COVID19virus
implementation and level of compliance containment strategy. Consequently,
from the population varies from State to policies and programs designed to contain
State; this is related to perception of the the spread of COVD-19 in Nigeria must be
government, trust in government directives, accompanied by measures to minimize
and different levels of education and disruptions to the food system. Nigeria
sensitisation to the measures. needs to seek balance between saving lives
Aside from the health/mortality effects of and livelihoods. The best approach to
the pandemic in Nigeria, the seemingly maintain this delicate balance is ensuring
clearer effect is the impact of the social that measures are pragmatic, dynamic,
distancing and lockdown measures on the flexible and localized with the participation
economy. How people make a living and of the key stakeholders.
access markets is impacted by covid-19
across the Niger Delta region. These In order to do this, policy makers and other
stakeholders need short term data
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including: How interruptions in the livelihood patterns in Nigeria’s Niger Delta

availability of labour for food production, region is designed to enhance the
harvest, post-harvest handling and storage articulation of programmes that alleviates
activities, especially for perishables have the impacts of covid-19 on local food
affected food production and production and food marketing in the
marketing?;How government-imposed region in particular and other parts of
“lockdowns” on the free movement of Nigeria in general
people have affected the transportation of
local food products between rural and The rapid assessment approach was used to
urban areas and food security?; How the collect the required data entailing the
closure of critical food system infrastructure triangulation of quantitative and qualitative
such as rural producer markets, urban methods. Primary data were collected from
wholesale food markets and open-air retail 10 randomly selected local government
food markets have affected food marketing areas including 5 urban and 5 rural areas.
system and food prices?; How have women, Within the selected urban and rural
who are key actors in the food production communities a total of 2,000 copies of the
and marketing system, been affected?; and sets of questionnaires were administered as
What policies should be articulated to follows:
protect the capacity of local food (i) 600 Food Producers; (ii) 600 Food
production and marketing. Marketers and 800 Households.
Furthermore, qualitative data collected
It is against this background that the through key informant interviews and focus
present research focuses on the collection group discussions in the 10 local
of short-term and rapid policy-relevant data government areas. The survey covered
to inform government policies regarding important issues including knowledge and
social protection for vulnerable households, concerns about the pandemic, access to
remote education, and support for informal food and other basic needs, employment
food markets affected by shutdowns. The and income loss, safety nets and coping
study examines the disruptions to food strategies. The data collected also include
production, marketing and nutrition created the nature and types of lockdown measures
by the covid-19 situation and its impact on imposed by various governments; data on
the most vulnerable population in Nigeria labour availability and various farm input
using the Niger Delta region as a case study. supplies for local food production; data on
It examines the challenges to local informal the frequency of market holdings and the
food production (quantity, types and types of food marketed; and data on the
quality) and processing and distribution in impact of lockdown on household
rural communities, food transport to urban livelihoods sources, nutrition and
markets, and supply-demand coordination vulnerability.
problems triggered by the restrictions put in
place by government to reduce the spread This policy brief which focuses on the
of the covid-19 pandemic. In effect the effects of covid-19 containment measures
documentation of the impact of the covid- on local food farmers in Delta State is the
19 pandemic on local food production and second of a series of policy briefs prepared
food marketing systems as well as from the findings of the study. The
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remaining part of this policy brief is divided trading business for a longer period
into two parts. The first section summarises compared with the male counterparts.
the key findings of the study with respect to
local food marketing activities while the The food marketers are involved in the sale
second section outlines some key of a variety of food items locally consumed
actionable recommendations, especially in in Nigeria. The vast proportion of the
the context of emerging second wave of respondents (60.76 percent) are involved in
covid-19 in Nigeria which could lead to the marketing of arable crop products such
further lockdown strategies. as potato, maize, yam, cassava, garri, rice,
plantain, vegetable, etc. The marketing of
animal products such as goats, sheep,
THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 cattle, poultry, etc. constitute 14.16 percent
CONTAINMENT MEASURES ON of the traders with women constituting 6.61
LOCAL FOOD MARKETING percent while men constitute the balance of
The findings of the survey shows that the 7.55 percent which indicates that slightly
partial closure of critical food system more men were involved in marketing
infrastructure (rural producer markets, livestock and livestock products compared
wholesale food markets and open-air retail with women.
food markets) led to the apparent shutting The emergence of covid-19 pandemic and
down of the traditional marketing system in the associated protocol put in place by
Delta State as in other parts of the Niger governments had some effects on the
Delta region. Partial market closures by activities of food marketers in Delta State.
government during the covid-19 pandemic Government precautionary measures have
prevented transactions between producers, exempted the movement of people and
traders, wholesalers, retailers and goods related to agriculture and food
consumers. With no place for transactions, products from covid-19-imposed controls.
supply is reduced, prices increased and Traders, transporters, producers and
livelihoods and incomes suffered, creating a businesses in Delta State, report, however,
major stress on food security. Insufficient that frequent road closures, police-enforced
and poor access to dry and cold-chain checkpoints and government-imposed
storage compounded the marketing “lockdowns” on free movement of people,
problems, leading to increased food loss limited transportation of agricultural and
and waste. As noted earlier, women food products between rural and urban
dominate the food marketing system with areas. These restrictions reverberate
over 72 percent of them as food traders. through the food production system
The findings showed that women comprise affecting food supplies in urban areas and
45 percent of the 59.66 percent of the the transport of food produce from rural
traders involved in retailing of food items communities to urban areas. This situation
and also dominate wholesale of food items. has affected the number of customers and
Again, more women have been in the food volume of sales. It was found that the vast
majority of the respondents (80.01 percent)
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reported that the number of customers another 9.34 percent indicated that there
patronizing them declined since March were no changes in their stock. These
2020 with women again more negatively patterns of increase in stocks or lack of
affected with 58 percent of them reporting changes may reflect the fact that sales were
lower patronage compared with men that poor and hence the supplies remain in
had 22.01 percent. stock. About 47 percent of women were
affected compared with 17 percent for
With regard to the volume of sales,
men.
respondents pointed out that although
government restrictions on movement tend With the negative impact of covid-19 on the
to exempt the transport of local food items ability of households to generate adequate
and other related goods but there were still incomes to meet their obligations, the vast
restrictions on the movement of farmers majority of the food marketers (80.00
living in localities close to urban areas that percent) reported that they provided credit
often come (daily or weekly) to the urban to their customers during the period after
markets to sell part of their crops and March 2020 with 60 percent of them being
return to the village with manufactured females while 20 percent were males. It is
goods. These restrictions on rural-urban obvious that women are more sympathetic
travel and the closure of rural markets thus to their customers during this difficult
affected traditional mechanisms of covid-19 period.
destocking of local agricultural products by
In situations where the covid-19 pandemic
farmers, particularly in collection markets.
affected food production and the
This situation also affected the marketing of
movements of food items for sale have
livestock by pastoralists and agro-
been constrained, it was observed that
pastoralists. The vast majority of the food
prices of food items increased. The food
marketers (83.34 percent) reported that
marketers (80.57 percent) reported that the
their sales declined since the introduction
purchase price of their commodity
of covid-19 precautions by government.
increased since covid-19 pandemic started.
Indeed, the sales volume of over 44 percent
The proportion of the respondents that
of the food marketers decreased by more
reported that their commodity price did not
than 50 per cent.
increase was only about 18 percent. The
The stock levels of food products being sold food marketers also needed credit in the
by the marketers were also affected by covid-19 period to sustain their trade but
covid-19 as over 76 percent of the food this was not forthcoming as over 88 percent
marketers reported that their stock was of the food marketers reported that they
much lower due to the impact of the did not receive any credit facility from any
various precautionary measures that have government agency
reduced the mobility of the food marketers
to replenish their supplies. However, about
10 percent of the respondents reported
that their stock is much higher while
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that may undermine national and intra

ACTIONABLE POLICY state food trade, so must they ensure that
RECOMMENDATIONS the movement of local food continues to
The sustainability of local food marketing flow unimpeded during the period of covid-
during and after covid-19 will depend, in 19 restrictions.
large part, on policy responses over the (v) It is essential that food and nutrition
short, medium and long term. Some of the care workers be protected against exposure
possible short and medium term policy to covid-19, in the same manner as front-
issues are outlined as follows: line workers and other essential staff. This is
(i) Regular, consistent and concise particularly important where workers
communication with clear messages on the interact with the general public or with
food situation is critical to reduce panic, large numbers of people, as in wholesale
maintain confidence in agriculture and food markets, food processing plants, food
sector and feel secure about the availability pantries, or in close contact with clients.
of and access to food. People in rural and Special rules for social distancing,
urban areas need information on market staggering hours, or mechanizing sorting
operations and good health practices when and counting processes can be useful where
working and shopping. masks and other personal protective
equipment are in short supply.
(ii) Although every government will
prioritize and coordinate actions based on (vi) Allow rural markets to operate with
their assessment of the situation, it is modest restrictions and precautions. Ensure
critical that governments prioritize local farmers can farm, which may mean
agricultural food system functions as an guaranteeing supplies of fertilizer, seed and
essential service that will continue to fuel, and in some cases, allowing seasonal
operate during periods of lockdown, labour to move for harvests. Remittances
emergency, curfew or other health will probably fall, but for those still flowing,
containment measures. transmission from urban to rural areas must
be facilitated.
(iii) Food marketing interventions must
address all food system channels – modern, (vii) For problems related to food spoilage
traditional (open markets, small stores) and from improper storage, governments could
informal (street vendors). Each channel optimize the use of public and private
serves different markets and parts of the storage facilities that could be used for
population, helping to maintain a resilient emergency food stockpiling.
food system that is imperative to (viii) Food availability at markets in urban
minimizing the impact of covid-19 on areas is declining, especially for fresh
society. perishable foods such as fruits and
(iv) Just as governments need to address vegetables and animal sourced foods.
key regulatory barriers and policy responses Results seem to suggest that efforts should

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be made to ensure supply of these fresh supply chains for food commodities
foods to urban areas. As for most poor secured.
resource populations, informal markets
(iv) Federal and State Governments and
deliver these foods, which suggest that
other key stakeholders should ensure that
efforts to enable these markets to continue
the population must obtain the food they
or to find alternative ways to deliver these
need, especially the most vulnerable
foods to urban households should be
individuals (infants, young children, women,
strengthened.
elderly people, homeless people, people
living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic
FOOD SECURITY illnesses, disabled people, and homebound
individuals).
(i) There is an urgent need for governments
in Nigeria, technical experts, food (v) To end restrictions on transportation
producers, marketers, and other food and disruptions in markets that may quickly
market participants to share data, create shortage problems, governments
information and analysis to develop a and allied stakeholders should educate the
stronger understanding of the pandemic’s public about the critical need to prepare for
various effects on food security, nutrition food shortages at the household level by
and overall food system functioning in real promoting responsible levels of stockpiling,
time. To ensure thorough, timely collection home production, canning and food
and analysis of data related to food systems preservation.
functioning, several options are available.
(ii) In Nigeria as in many other countries,
food security is handled largely at the
national level. However, during a severe
pandemic like this, national governments
may be overwhelmed and may be unable to
provide timely assistance to every affected
region or state. During such an emergency,
the most important for governments to
focus on is effective planning.
(iii) As livelihoods of millions of people are
likely being disrupted, food insecurity is an
urgent challenge. Among those that will
require food services are expected to be
urban poor populations affected by the
lockdowns and are outside the purview of
regular humanitarian caseloads. At the
same time, humanitarian support to most
vulnerable groups needs to be planned with
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