COVID-19 impact and resilience mechanisms in Limpopo province’s farming communities
Abstract The differential impacts of COVID-19 on small, medium, and large-scale farmers in South Africa are still not fully understood, creating challenges for resilience to future pandemics. This study investigates the pandemic’s effects on agricultural value chains, food security, and the strategi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Discover Food |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00554-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849764394345431040 |
|---|---|
| author | Lazarus Chapungu Godwell Nhamo Munyaradzi Chitakira Khangwelo Desmond Musetsho |
| author_facet | Lazarus Chapungu Godwell Nhamo Munyaradzi Chitakira Khangwelo Desmond Musetsho |
| author_sort | Lazarus Chapungu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The differential impacts of COVID-19 on small, medium, and large-scale farmers in South Africa are still not fully understood, creating challenges for resilience to future pandemics. This study investigates the pandemic’s effects on agricultural value chains, food security, and the strategies adopted by farmers in Limpopo province in response. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines a survey of 68 farmers with 15 key informant interviews to gather a range of perspectives. The findings indicate significant disruptions, especially in market access and input supply chains, which have worsened food insecurity. A modified Pareto analysis highlights income loss, market disruptions, and input shortages as the main stressors, accounting for 70% of the observed impacts. Small-scale farmers faced a greater burden due to the loss of non-farm employment opportunities. The study concludes that COVID-19 posed a universal threat to all categories of farmers, endangering agricultural value chains and food security. Given the vital role of agriculture in South Africa's economy, the findings emphasize the necessity for proactive policy measures to strengthen resilience in the sector. Enhanced support systems, better market access, and diversification of supply chains are crucial for protecting agricultural livelihoods against future crises. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e916de4d623c418d9a89c244db7ff631 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2731-4286 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Food |
| spelling | doaj-art-e916de4d623c418d9a89c244db7ff6312025-08-20T03:05:09ZengSpringerDiscover Food2731-42862025-07-015112210.1007/s44187-025-00554-9COVID-19 impact and resilience mechanisms in Limpopo province’s farming communitiesLazarus Chapungu0Godwell Nhamo1Munyaradzi Chitakira2Khangwelo Desmond Musetsho3Institute for Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, University of South AfricaInstitute for Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, University of South AfricaDepartment of Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South AfricaDepartment of Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South AfricaAbstract The differential impacts of COVID-19 on small, medium, and large-scale farmers in South Africa are still not fully understood, creating challenges for resilience to future pandemics. This study investigates the pandemic’s effects on agricultural value chains, food security, and the strategies adopted by farmers in Limpopo province in response. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines a survey of 68 farmers with 15 key informant interviews to gather a range of perspectives. The findings indicate significant disruptions, especially in market access and input supply chains, which have worsened food insecurity. A modified Pareto analysis highlights income loss, market disruptions, and input shortages as the main stressors, accounting for 70% of the observed impacts. Small-scale farmers faced a greater burden due to the loss of non-farm employment opportunities. The study concludes that COVID-19 posed a universal threat to all categories of farmers, endangering agricultural value chains and food security. Given the vital role of agriculture in South Africa's economy, the findings emphasize the necessity for proactive policy measures to strengthen resilience in the sector. Enhanced support systems, better market access, and diversification of supply chains are crucial for protecting agricultural livelihoods against future crises.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00554-9COVID-19SDG2Food securityFarmer responsesAgricultural value chain |
| spellingShingle | Lazarus Chapungu Godwell Nhamo Munyaradzi Chitakira Khangwelo Desmond Musetsho COVID-19 impact and resilience mechanisms in Limpopo province’s farming communities Discover Food COVID-19 SDG2 Food security Farmer responses Agricultural value chain |
| title | COVID-19 impact and resilience mechanisms in Limpopo province’s farming communities |
| title_full | COVID-19 impact and resilience mechanisms in Limpopo province’s farming communities |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 impact and resilience mechanisms in Limpopo province’s farming communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 impact and resilience mechanisms in Limpopo province’s farming communities |
| title_short | COVID-19 impact and resilience mechanisms in Limpopo province’s farming communities |
| title_sort | covid 19 impact and resilience mechanisms in limpopo province s farming communities |
| topic | COVID-19 SDG2 Food security Farmer responses Agricultural value chain |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00554-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lazaruschapungu covid19impactandresiliencemechanismsinlimpopoprovincesfarmingcommunities AT godwellnhamo covid19impactandresiliencemechanismsinlimpopoprovincesfarmingcommunities AT munyaradzichitakira covid19impactandresiliencemechanismsinlimpopoprovincesfarmingcommunities AT khangwelodesmondmusetsho covid19impactandresiliencemechanismsinlimpopoprovincesfarmingcommunities |