Food security of agri-food system actors during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines: Post-pandemic implications to sustainable development

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had global reach and widespread effect, particularly concerning food security. As food supply chains become disrupted, food producers struggle to access markets. Thus, there is a need to examine the factors affecting the food security of agri-food system actors, particularly smallholder farmers in the Philippines. Utilizing the eight-question survey module of the FAO's Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and questions regarding their socio-demographic profile, 215 agri-food system actors including smallholder farmers, processors, logistic providers, and traders were surveyed from February to May 2021. An ordered probit regression was used to determine the factors affecting the severity of the food insecurity of agri-food system actors. Smallholder farmers, larger households, and Indigenous Peoples' groups experience an increase in food insecurity. Conversely, the determinants of reduced severity of food insecurity include other agri-food system actors, reporting profitability during the COVID-19 lockdown period, older age, being married, having more employed household members, and having savings. Results reflect farmers being among the severely impacted sectors during the pandemic. The findings shed light on several resilience and post-pandemic implications to sustainable development, such as designing resilient food systems by securing farmers' access to inputs and markets and improving their profitability. Furthermore, there is a need to transform current food systems into being more inclusive by targeting younger farmers, Indigenous Peoples' groups, and poor farmers having limited means to increase their financial capital to improve food security in rural communities. This study is the first empirical evidence documenting the extent of food insecurity among agri-food system actors during extreme shocks.