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Covid-19, Food Security, Food Prices and Urban-rural Interrelationship for Sustainable Food and Nutritional Security: a Study on Dhaka City

Md. Mizanur Rahman Sarker
Corresponding author
Department of Agricultural Statistics, Faculty of Agribusiness Management, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Anika Nawar Fagun
Department of Agribusiness and Marketing, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Currently the world is facing a phenomenon, a fast-spreading disease named ‘2019 Novel Coronavirus’(COVID19). It has spread to approximately 215 countries around the world and is affecting the health and economic condition widely. To effectively control the situation nationwide lockdown was implemented in Bangladesh following WHO’s instructions. That lead to nationwide panic buying, stockpiling, circulation of misinformation and a sense of food insecurity at local level. Most of the people of Bangladesh depends on agricultural sector and this pandemic created severe crisis for this sector. The magnitude of the crisis fluctuates from place to place in Bangladesh. This study focuses on the specific case of capital city Dhaka which is the most affected area and where the farmer consumer alliance was reportedly disrupted and panic stockpiling was highest. Based on formal interviews with local government officials, the situation of urban-rural food transfer and the consequent government initiatives for maintaining food supply and public health was studied. Then this paper assessed the perceived food security of participants, price at local market level along with online surveys while the city residents were under partial lockdown during pandemic. The study founded that the food insecurity was increased and respondent reported some basic foods prices were higher than usual. Also, the farmer consumer alliance was greatly hampered because of economic shutdown with the restriction of travel which has created an imbalance between demand and supply of food. It also detected that day laborer, marginal and poor people, vulnerable women and children are mostly affected. These findings have policy implication both at farmer and ultimate consumer level addressing the short term and long-term factors, related to food security, price and farmer consumer alliance in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Food System, COVID-19, Food Security, Urban-rural Relationship, Health Security, Agribusiness

Location: Dhaka capital city of Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Food Safety and Security

Commodity: Nutrition, Quality

Objectives:

To find the answers and also suggesting policy mix for addressing the short-term and long-term disquiet related to food system in Dhaka.

Methodology:

Study Location: Our study area is Dhaka which is the capital of Bangladesh. it is one of the major cities of South Asia, the largest city in Eastern South Asia and among the Bay of Bengal countries. It is the ninth-largest and the sixth-most densely populated city in the world, with a population of 8.9 million residents within the city limits, and a population of over 21 million residents in the greater Dhaka area. It is the economic, political and cultural center of Bangladesh. Set beside the Buriganga River, its area is 306.4 km². It is the financial and commercial capital of Bangladesh. It accounts up to 35% of Bangladesh's economy. Dhaka serves as the financial hub of the country and also headquarters of major Bangladeshi financial institutions. In last 6 months 1684 confirmed cases were found in Dhaka city. As it is densely populated city, the virus has spread more rapidly. Due to partial lockdown and limited transportation service, the price of the essential food items was on the rise. Formal Interview with Government Officials: The primary data were collected through formal interviews with the government officials from Dhaka North and South City Corporations who are in charge of keeping COVID-19 under check in Dhaka. The mentioned questions were asked to gather secondary information. (1) what are the significant measures taken by government to control the market situation? (2) In past few months, has there been any fluctuation of price of essential food items? (3) Has there been any change in demand for essential food items? (4) How this pandemic has affected the Urban rural food chain? (5) which group of people were mostly affected? A clear-cut understanding of the COVID-19 situation of Dhaka city was demonstrated based on their responses. The author also collected information from various data regarding COVID from the city corporation offices and media reports. Questionnaire: The response of different countries differs due to social structure, economic capacity and resources. The COVID-19 pandemic has heavily impacted household and individual level earnings in Bangladesh with around 13 percent of people becoming unemployed; lower and middle-income classes have been experiencing a significant drop in income for the last few months. To understand the conception of insecurities of Dhaka city residents during COVID-19 four major aspects should be discussed. (1) Information sources; (2) Health situation; (3) Food security; (4) Job security Question for Source of Information assessment: (1) Do you have access to updated information of COVID19/available information of COVID-19? (2) What are your major information sources for COVID-19 situation in Dhaka city? (3) In what source do you rely most? Question for health sector situation assessment: (1) What is your major concern related to health during pandemic? (2) Are you satisfied with the COVID-19 test facility in Dhaka? (3) Has there been any change in price of pharmaceuticals/ health care products in Dhaka? (4) Do you think enough initiative was taken by the government to control and treat COVID-19? Food Stability: (12) Do you think supply of food products is stable in Dhaka? (13) Is there any possibility that the supply of food products will be stable in Dhaka? (14) Do you think there will be available information on market situation of Dhaka? (15) Do you think the demand of essential food products will be the same in Dhaka? Question for Job security: (1) Did COVID-19 situation affect you/ your family member’s job? (2) How was it affected? (3) Are you facing any financial difficulty in this COVID-19 situation? (4) Do you think job situation will be stable?

Source of Information: International Journal of Agricultural Economics, 2021; 6(1): 47-58; ISSN: 2575-3851 (Print); ISSN: 2575-3843 (Online)

Article Link (Online Journal): doi: 10.11648/j.XXXX.2021XXXX.XX (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijae)

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Food Stability: (12) Do you think supply of food products is stable in Dhaka? (13) Is there any possibility that the supply of food products will be stable in Dhaka? (14) Do you think there will be available information on market situation of Dhaka? (15) Do you think the demand of essential food products will be the same in Dhaka? Question for Job security: (1) Did COVID-19 situation affect you/ your family member’s job? (2) How was it affected? (3) Are you facing any financial difficulty in this COVID-19 situation? (4) Do you think job situation will be stable? residents stay confined to their homes. Through a descriptive analysis of respondents' “Information Sources” a considerable variation of sources of information was observed. People preferred “Television” as the most authentic information source. Regarding health sector, people were more concern about safety than proper treatment. Prices of many pharmaceutical products were on the rise. The assessment of food security has brought forward some problem’s citizens are facing during COVID-19 and a positive side that there are still available foods in both market and household level. The study also found out through assessment that high insecurities is prevailing in job sector. However, these results suggest that the city corporation and government should pay particular attention to policy formation for improving the households’ food security of vulnerable and marginal peoples. Therefore, key issues for policy development regarding this subject matter are how to ensure food security, create effective information sources, create short time and long-time employment opportunities, promote awareness-building programs regarding the social distancing and heath rule to ensure healthy life.

Knowledge Management: Journal