**8. Farmers' health precautionary measures in face of COVID-19 pandemic**

The result in **Figure 7**, shows farmers health precautionary measures in face of COVID-19 pandemic in the area. It reveals that about 99.99, 99.78, 98.00 and 95.72% of the farmers have started hand washing, wearing a face mask, practising no-shake and physical/social distancing, respectively. The [1] reported that masks can help prevent the spread of the virus from the person wearing the mask to others. The report when further to state that masks alone do not protect against COVID-19, and should be combined with physical distancing and hand hygiene. It is important to note that farmers who say to have started using a face mask were because of the local force abuse of the process. Most farmers said they wear a mask to avoid Nigerian police, taskforce and other health agency harassment and not for the fear of contracting the virus. In addition, [3] washing of hands is one of the most important steps one can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

**Figure 7.** *Farmers' health measures in COVID-19 pandemic.*

#### *Does the Incidence of COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Rice Yield? Lessons from Southeast Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93744*

Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. The [1] recommends cleaning hands in a specific way to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. The guidance for effective handwashing and use of hand sanitizer was developed based on data from a number of studies [8, 9]. About 76.83% have started heavy consumption of fruits and vegetables while a smaller proportion (33.72%) said that Blood of Jesus Christ protects them and they do not and will not practice any measure. The report of [8, 9] has advised people to Use fresh ingredients and those that have a shorter shelf life first.

The study of [1, 8, 9] further states that if fresh products, especially fruits, vegetables and reduced-fat dairy products continue to be available, prioritize these over non-perishables. Frozen fruits and vegetables can also conveniently be used over longer periods of time and often have a similar nutrient profile to fresh foods. The author founds out that most farmers do not trust the government and think that COVID-19 is a hoax and means the Nigerian Government and other world leaders want to use and embezzle public fund. This situation, therefore, calls for urgent concern for the global and Nigerian Government to show great sincere and accountable leadership to its citizens at all time.

## **9. Farmers' perceived effect of COVID-19 pandemic in rice farming**

The result of the farmers' distribution based on perceived effect of COVID-19 pandemic in rice farming is compiled in **Table 2**. The various attributes of were rated in a 4- point likert scale type of questions of Strongly Agreed (4); Agreed (3); Disagreed (2) and Strongly Disagreed (1). Using the method of mean score analysis, a discriminatory mean of 2.50 was produced which divided the distribution into four scale was produced. The mean value of each attribute equal to or above (*X̄*= ≥2.50) was regarded as being an accepted decision while attributes with mean value less than (*X̄*= ≤2.50) was regarded as a rejected decision. The values of standard deviation (SD) denote the degree of variation in the responses of the farmers. Standard deviation with values equal or above one indicates high variances in farmers a response regarding level of knowledge of organic farming practices. The standard deviation value which ranged from 0.10 to 0.40 indicated that farmers were in agreement in their perceived effective of organic farming practices on poverty alleviation in the area. Additionally, all the items were rated high and had an acceptable overall discriminatory score (*x̄*= ≥2.50). This result strongly confirmed that COVID-19 pandemic is seriously affecting rice farmers in the area. A very salient finding was that COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting activities in rice value-chains (*x̄*= ≥3.11).

The result also showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the partial restriction of all agricultural institutions in the country since March 2020 and disrupted rice activities, like harvesting of 2019/2020 season's rice produce that was ongoing and land preparations and planting for 2020/2021 season. Result show that the non-availability of labor is interrupting planting, harvesting and distribution activities of rice (*x̄*= ≥3.32). There are disruptions in supply chains for purchase of inputs because of poor transportation system and partial lockdown (*x̄*= ≥3.12). Rice farmers are also paying more on inputs (*x̄*= ≥3.43). Result also shows that extension visits to farmers have been seriously and market access limited (*x̄*= ≥3.44) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With its far-reaching geographical spread, the findings confirmed the study of [8, 9] which reported that the pandemic is projected to have devastating effects on the global economy, as attested by the projection of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in April 2020 that the world economy would contract sharply by 3.00%, and that the economy of sub-Saharan Africa would contract by 1.60% in 2020.

pandemic, that is, telephone (Bulk SMS) and radio has made it more accessible to many. Farmers are able to go everywhere with their radios, including to their farms. Every home had a radio while others had more than one radio. Radio is one of powerful communication tool and has proved to be the most effective media in promoting agriculture and development in rural areas, particularly as a tool for the

The result is strengthened by the finding of [30] who found that radio leads in overall media consumption followed by the mobile phone (Bulk Text messages) with the wake of many vernacular radios which are able to effectively communicate to the targeted groups. The result also shows that simple majority (48.73 and 12.62%) of the farmers identified extension agents and television as one of the sources of information on COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it should be a call for serious concern. For poor extension service delivery, it could be attributed to poor extension contact observed earlier from the socio-economic variable of the farmers in the study. Agricultural extension agents can offer great support to farmers during uncertainty and sudden changes that come with the pandemic, and strategies to bounce back from shocks and enhance resilience. Television is one of the possible mechanisms to activate already existing mental skills in the farmers. Television combines multiple symbol systems, such as visual images, sounds, music, spoken and written language, and presents them simultaneously. Regrettably, poor power supply and high cost of television-set have made it difficult for farmers to assess

**8. Farmers' health precautionary measures in face of COVID-19**

COVID-19 pandemic in the area. It reveals that about 99.99, 99.78, 98.00 and 95.72% of the farmers have started hand washing, wearing a face mask, practising no-shake and physical/social distancing, respectively. The [1] reported that masks can help prevent the spread of the virus from the person wearing the mask to others. The report when further to state that masks alone do not protect against COVID-19, and should be combined with physical distancing and hand hygiene. It is important to note that farmers who say to have started using a face mask were because of the local force abuse of the process. Most farmers said they wear a mask to avoid Nigerian police, taskforce and other health agency harassment and not for the fear of contracting the virus. In addition, [3] washing of hands is one of the most important steps one can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

The result in **Figure 7**, shows farmers health precautionary measures in face of

delivery of quick information.

*Recent Advances in Rice Research*

COVID-19 information thorough it.

**pandemic**

**Figure 7.**

**194**

*Farmers' health measures in COVID-19 pandemic.*


Furthermore, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has projected that, in a worst-case scenario, economic activity for Africa as a whole would contract by 2.60%, with negative impacts on the employment rate, agriculture and that estimated that four out of five businesses in Africa would be significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic [10]. Going forward, the African Development Bank (AfDB) predicted an economic contraction for the continent of 3.40% [11]. The study of [31] asserted that in order to mitigate the shock of the pandemic and its related effects on smallholder farmers building capacities and providing financial and marketing support for farmers would be essential. Similarly, food security is fragile under normal circumstances for smallholder farm families and other vulnerable populations across Southeast, Nigeria. As noted in an impact analysis from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), projections for increased poverty levels and food insecurity are dire as a result of the pandemic [32].

**Agreed Disagreed Strongly**

**disagreed**

**Mean (***x̄***) (**≥**2.50)**

87 (17.26) 4 (0.79) 3.20 0.79 Accepted

12 (4.76) 5 (1.98) 3.44 0.81 Accepted

**SD Decision**

With this present threat, African countries and particularly Nigeria are likely to

**10. Farmers' barriers in mitigating the effect of COVID-19 pandemic in**

The finding in **Figure 8** shows farmers' barriers in mitigating the effect of COVID-19 pandemic in rice farming in the area. The finding reveals that about 99.82% of the farmers identified inadequate information. This could be attributed to the dearth in research on COVID-19 pandemic mitigation strategies for rice

experience a reversal in the development gains already achieved and will be unlikely to achieve the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the aspirations of African Agenda 2063. The study therefore identified the need for governments at all levels in the country to design a sustainable policy in such a way that farmers should have access to affordable farm credit as well as subsidized agricultural inputs in order to increase their ability and flexibility to change in

production strategies in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

**rice farming**

**197**

**S/No Items Strongly**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93744*

us back in adapting and mitigating to climate change 12 COVID-19 pandemic have negatively drew us back in mitigating to greenhouse gases emission in our rice field

13 COVID-19 pandemic have negatively affected our access to market and agricultural extension services

**Table 2.**

**agreed**

308 (61.11)

134 (53.17)

*SD; standard deviation; discriminatory index: cut off point* x̄≥ *2.50 accepted;*

*\*Figures in parenthesis are percentage; Field Survey Data, 2020.*

*Farmers' perceived effect of COVID-19 pandemic in rice farming.*

105 (20.83)

*Does the Incidence of COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Rice Yield? Lessons from Southeast Nigeria*

101 (40.08) *Does the Incidence of COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Rice Yield? Lessons from Southeast Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93744*


*\*Figures in parenthesis are percentage; Field Survey Data, 2020.*

#### **Table 2.**

**S/No Items Strongly**

1 COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new threat to our rice farming

*Recent Advances in Rice Research*

2 COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting planting of 2020/2021 season seedling, harvesting of 2019/2020 season produce and distribution activities in rice farming.

3 COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shortage of farm labor

4 COVID-19 pandemic has decreased supply chains for purchase of inputs because of the poor transportation system and partial lockdown

5 COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in the provision of basics food for our children

6 COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the cost of input and machinery

7 COVID-19 pandemic has decreased my rice production/yield and aggregate farm income

8 COVID-19 pandemic has made us unable to provide the recommended health precautionary measures for our family

9 COVID-19 pandemic have negatively affected our different rice value chain

10 COVID-19 pandemic have greatly increased our farm production, harvesting and distribution cost

11 COVID-19 pandemic have negatively drew

**196**

**agreed**

298 (59.12)

261 (51.79)

327 (64.88)

281 (55.75)

301 (59.72)

375 (74.40)

293 (58.13)

382 (75.79)

317 (62.90)

303 (60.12)

297 (58.93)

139 (27.58)

155 (30.75)

132 (26.19)

128 (25.40)

103 (20.45)

97 (19.25)

144 (28.57)

112 (22.22)

146 (28.97)

101 (20.04)

120 (23.81)

**Agreed Disagreed Strongly**

**disagreed**

**Mean (***x̄***) (**≥**2.50)**

65 (12.90) 2 (0.40) 3.22 0.85 Accepted

83 (16.47) 5 (0.10) 3.11 0.72 Accepted

42 (8.33) 3 (0.60) 3.32 0.56 Accepted

84 (16.67) 11 (2.18) 3.12 0.52 Accepted

98 (19.44) 2 (0.40) 3.17 0.81 Accepted

31 (6.15) 1 (0.20) 3.43 0.87 Accepted

58 (11.51) 9 (1.79) 3.20 0.83 Accepted

7 (1.39) 3 (0.60) 3.48 0.68 Accepted

33 (6.55) 8 (1.59) 3.30 0.75 Accepted

88 (17.46) 12 (2.38) 3.15 0.78 Accepted

61 (12.10) 26 (5.16) 3.14 0.80 Accepted

**SD Decision**

*Farmers' perceived effect of COVID-19 pandemic in rice farming.*

Furthermore, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has projected that, in a worst-case scenario, economic activity for Africa as a whole would contract by 2.60%, with negative impacts on the employment rate, agriculture and that estimated that four out of five businesses in Africa would be significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic [10]. Going forward, the African Development Bank (AfDB) predicted an economic contraction for the continent of 3.40% [11]. The study of [31] asserted that in order to mitigate the shock of the pandemic and its related effects on smallholder farmers building capacities and providing financial and marketing support for farmers would be essential. Similarly, food security is fragile under normal circumstances for smallholder farm families and other vulnerable populations across Southeast, Nigeria. As noted in an impact analysis from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), projections for increased poverty levels and food insecurity are dire as a result of the pandemic [32].

With this present threat, African countries and particularly Nigeria are likely to experience a reversal in the development gains already achieved and will be unlikely to achieve the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the aspirations of African Agenda 2063. The study therefore identified the need for governments at all levels in the country to design a sustainable policy in such a way that farmers should have access to affordable farm credit as well as subsidized agricultural inputs in order to increase their ability and flexibility to change in production strategies in response to COVID-19 pandemic.
