The effect of COVID-19 containment measures on fresh food market vendors in Uganda
Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies
ISSN: 2044-0839
Article publication date: 24 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues to impact economic systems, with devastating consequences on livelihoods. Anecdotal evidence has predicted the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the livelihood of food system actors. Uganda experienced two lockdowns in March 2020 and June 2021 with varying government containment measures. During the first lockdown, fresh food market vending was deemed essential to meet urban food demand, and was consequently exempted from a total shutdown despite the ban on public and private transport. Thus, this study sought to examine the effect of COVID-19 containment measures on fresh food market vending businesses in Uganda.
Design/methodology/approach
Using primary data collected from fresh food market vendors, this study applied a pooled time-series estimation to examine the effect of the first lockdown COVID-19 containment measures on fresh food vendors' welfare.
Findings
The study revealed that COVID-19 had a significant negative impact on the income of fresh food vendors, with female vendors being the most affected. COVID-19 containment measures reduced the diversity of buyers, individual customers and the number of commodities traded in causing a greater impact on vendors' income.
Research limitations/implications
The unavailability of data for vendors who did not return to the market at the time of data collection limits the scope of the study. Additionally, the absence of data for the second lockdown limited the analysis to only March 2020 lockdown period.
Originality/value
The empirical analysis highlights how vulnerabilities of different gender categories could be exacerbated by crises. The study provides empirical evidence of various market distortions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the disproportionate impact on women and men market vendors which calls for the need to integrate women's perspectives in future planning for market systems as well as advocating for gender-sensitive recovery responses.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the Government of Uganda (GoU) through the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (Mak-RIF). Therefore, the authors acknowledge the commitment of the Government of Uganda towards the socio-economic transformation of its people through funding research and innovation. The authors are grateful to the research assistants who administered the questionnaires to capture the required data from the market vendors. The authors also thank all market leaders and vendors who participated in this study.
Citation
Nakazi, F., Nasirumbi Sanya, L. and Mugisha, J. (2023), "The effect of COVID-19 containment measures on fresh food market vendors in Uganda", Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-10-2022-0228
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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