*Recent Advances in Rice Research*


Result in **Table 1** shows that majority (53.57%) were married. The finding implies that rice farming is an enterprise of married individual who are expected to be responsible according to societal standard [14]. Married farmers have likelihood of adapting to the effect of COVID-19 pandemic easily than their unmarried counterpart since they have access to labor. During this period of COVID-19 pandemic, non-availability of labor is interrupting some harvesting and distribution activities

**Total 504 100.0 N880,200.00**

**(2267.62USD)**

13–14 11 2.18 **9 persons**

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

3.1–4.0 100 19.84 **3.10 ha**

**Total 504 100.0 Annual farm income (N) Frequency Percentage (%)** 100,000–200,000 13 2.58 200,001–300,000 36 7.14 300,001–400,000 28 5.56 400,001–500,000 23 4.56 600,001–700,000 74 14.70 700,001–800,000 96 19.05 800,001–900,000 223 44.25 900,001–1,000,000 11 2.18

**Total 504 100.00 Extension contact Frequency Percentage (%)** Not at all 430 85.32 Once in a fortnight 47 9.32 Once in a month 23 4.56 Once in a year 4 0.79 **Total 504 100.0 Access to credit Frequency Percentage (%)** Access 401 79.56 No-access 103 20.44 Total 504 100.0 **Total 504 100.0 Farm size (Ha) Frequency Percentage (%)** 0.1–1.0 52 10.32 1.1–2.0 89 17.66 2.1–3.0 263 52.18

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

There are disruptions in supply chains for purchase of inputs because of poor transportation system and partial ease of lockdown. Therefore, married farmers

of rice.

**191**

**Table 1.**

*Source: Field Survey Data, 2020.*

*Socio-economic characteristics of rice farmers.*


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

#### **Table 1.**

**Age (years) Frequency Percentage (%) Mean (***X***)**

**Total 504 100.0 45.00 years**

**Total 504 100.0 12 years equivalent to**

**Frequency Percentage (%)**

**Total 504 100.0 21 years**

**Frequency Percentage (%)**

**secondary education**

–30 8 1.58 –40 49 9.72 –50 295 58.53 –60 108 21.42 –70 32 6.34 –80 12 2.38

*Recent Advances in Rice Research*

**Sex Frequency Percentage (%)** Male 309 61.30 Female 195 38.69 **Total 504 100.0 Educational level Frequency Percentage (%)** No formal education 16 3.17 Primary 161 31.94 Secondary 291 57.73 Tertiary 36 7.14

**Marital status Frequency Percentage (%)** Married 270 53.57 Single 157 31.15 Widowed 54 10.71 Divorced 23 4.56 **Total 504 100.0**

–10 15 2.97 –19 34 6.74 –30 284 56.34 –40 101 20.03 –50 59 11.70 –60 11 2.18

1–2 3 0.59 –4 14 2.78 –6 29 5.78 –8 124 24.60 –10 222 44.04 –12 101 20.03

**Farming experience**

**Household size (number of persons)**

**190**

**(years)**

*Socio-economic characteristics of rice farmers.*

Result in **Table 1** shows that majority (53.57%) were married. The finding implies that rice farming is an enterprise of married individual who are expected to be responsible according to societal standard [14]. Married farmers have likelihood of adapting to the effect of COVID-19 pandemic easily than their unmarried counterpart since they have access to labor. During this period of COVID-19 pandemic, non-availability of labor is interrupting some harvesting and distribution activities of rice.

There are disruptions in supply chains for purchase of inputs because of poor transportation system and partial ease of lockdown. Therefore, married farmers

have increased chance of adapting easily to COVID-19 than their counterpart since they have access to household size. Result of farming experience is shown in **Table 1** and it shows that about 56.34% of the farmers had a farming experience ranging from 20 to 30 years. The mean year of experience in farming was 21.00 years. This shows that the farmers were quite experienced in rice farming and have started been practicing several COVID-19 pandemic strategies to increase their farm yield and income in the area. It is expected that farmers with more experience are more likely to accept innovations and new COVID-19 pandemic strategies to increase their farm yield and income than inexperienced farmer. The number of years of farming helps to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, since the incidence of diseases and infection is a recurring decimal globally such as the Spanish flu, 1918; AIDS pandemic and epidemic, 1981; H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic, 2009–2010; West African Ebola epidemic, 2014 and Zika Virus epidemic, 2015 among others.

Pandemic while approximately 2.08% are not aware of COVID-19 Pandemic in the area. The finding shows greater proportion of that farmers are aware of COVID-19 Pandemic and may have been witnessing the negative effect. Additionally, farmers may have also developed sustainable COVID-19 pandemic strategies to thwart the negative effect of COVID-19 Pandemic to improve their farm yield, income and standard of living. The high awareness could be attributed to the massive publicity about the virus by various Nigeria news agencies, and agricultural extension agents. The extension agents have been called to help bridge gap in information for farmers. The COVID-19 pandemic is not the first time extension agents have been called to action in an unfolding disaster. As an institution with trained technical staff who are trusted by communities, and with local reach and communication skills, extension agents has supported efforts and educated communities during crises such as HIV/ AIDS, Ebola, avian influenza, natural disasters, and pest infestations. In the same way, even though, awareness does not really signify development and use/practice of modern COVID-19 pandemic strategies, however, it could serve as an essential determinate. Ultimately, quick action from the governments coupled with credible, regular information is critical in dealing with emergencies such as COVID-19. As a critical actor in providing such information to rural areas, extension agents can do several things globally to help mitigate the economic and health impacts of COVID-19.

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

**Figure 5.**

**Figure 6.**

**193**

*Farmers' sources of information of COVID-19 pandemic.*

*Rice farmers' awareness of COVID-19 pandemic.*

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

**7. Farmers' sources of information of COVID-19 pandemic**

The result in **Figure 6**, shows farmers'sources of information of COVID-19 pandemic in the area. It reveals that about 99.50 and 93.02% of the farmers source of information was radio and mobile phone (Bulk Text messages) respectively. The

merging and use of technology particularly during this period of COVID-19

Result in **Table 1** also show that majority (85.32%) of the farmers had no contact with extension agents. The COVID-19 procotol such as the restriction of movement have made it very difficult for extension agents to visit various farm families. Although, the use of video conferences have been identified as a way to bridge the gap. Regrettably, rural farmers lack access, fund and technical-know-how to use it. The implication is that majority of the farmers may not have the opportunity of learning new COVID-19 farming strategies and consequently exposing their rice farming to incidence COVID-19 pandemic impact in the area. It becomes clear that there is need for the government to strengthen the Agricultural Development programme (ADP) of the various Southeast State with modern ICTs gadgets and skills for personnel to facilitate timely extension contacts with farmers in the area. Entries in **Table 1** revealed that about 44.04% had a household size ranging from 9 to 10. The mean household size was found to be 9.00 persons. The result shows that farmers had large households.

The lockdown created both a shortage of farm labor. The implication is that they could draw farm labor from their households during this period of COVID-19 to increase their farm yield and income. **Table 1** revealed that majority (52.18%) of the farmers had farm size of between 2.10 and 3.00 hectares. The average farm size is 3.10 ha. The finding implies that the farmers in the area are mainly smallholder farmers operating on less than or equal to 3.50 hectares of farmland. This could be as a result of land tenure system or increasing population prevalent in the area. Additionally, the small farm size is not even contiguous plot but rather small plots scattered in different areas of the community. It is expected that farmers with large farm size will practice more and better COVID-19 strategies than those with lesser farmland in the area.

Finally, **Table 1** indicates that majority (54.14%) had an average annual farm income of between N800,001 and N900,000. The mean annual farm income was N880,200.00 (2267.62USD) while monthly farm income was estimated to be N73,350.00 (188.97USD). The finding implies that the farmers have a relatively low farm income despite the larger household size which they recorded. The implication of the findings is that farmers may not have the much needed financial capacity to mitigate to the negative effect of COVID-19 pandemic in their rice farming. This is true as some mitigation strategies to COVID-19 pandemic strategies are costly. Hence, farmers may have several COVID-19 pandemic strategies they want to practice but limited fund may continue to hinder them.

### **6. Rice farmers' awareness of COVID-19 pandemic**

The result in **Figure 5**, shows farmers' awareness of COVID-19 Pandemic in the area. It shows that larger percentages (97.92%) of the farmers are aware of COVID-19 *Does the Incidence of COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Rice Yield? Lessons from Southeast Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93744*

#### **Figure 5.** *Rice farmers' awareness of COVID-19 pandemic.*

have increased chance of adapting easily to COVID-19 than their counterpart since they have access to household size. Result of farming experience is shown in **Table 1** and it shows that about 56.34% of the farmers had a farming experience ranging from 20 to 30 years. The mean year of experience in farming was 21.00 years. This shows that the farmers were quite experienced in rice farming and have started been practicing several COVID-19 pandemic strategies to increase their farm yield and income in the area. It is expected that farmers with more experience are more likely to accept innovations and new COVID-19 pandemic strategies to increase their farm yield and income than inexperienced farmer. The number of years of farming helps to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, since the incidence of diseases and infection is a recurring decimal globally such as the Spanish flu, 1918; AIDS pandemic and epidemic, 1981; H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic, 2009–2010; West African Ebola epidemic, 2014 and Zika Virus epidemic, 2015 among others.

Result in **Table 1** also show that majority (85.32%) of the farmers had no contact with extension agents. The COVID-19 procotol such as the restriction of movement have made it very difficult for extension agents to visit various farm families. Although, the use of video conferences have been identified as a way to bridge the gap. Regrettably, rural farmers lack access, fund and technical-know-how to use it. The implication is that majority of the farmers may not have the opportunity of learning new COVID-19 farming strategies and consequently exposing their rice farming to incidence COVID-19 pandemic impact in the area. It becomes clear that there is need for the government to strengthen the Agricultural Development programme (ADP) of the various Southeast State with modern ICTs gadgets and skills for personnel to facilitate timely extension contacts with farmers in the area. Entries in **Table 1** revealed that about 44.04% had a household size ranging from 9 to 10. The mean household size was found to be 9.00 persons. The result shows that

The lockdown created both a shortage of farm labor. The implication is that they could draw farm labor from their households during this period of COVID-19 to increase their farm yield and income. **Table 1** revealed that majority (52.18%) of the farmers had farm size of between 2.10 and 3.00 hectares. The average farm size is 3.10 ha. The finding implies that the farmers in the area are mainly smallholder farmers operating on less than or equal to 3.50 hectares of farmland. This could be as a result of land tenure system or increasing population prevalent in the area. Additionally, the small farm size is not even contiguous plot but rather small plots scattered in different areas of the community. It is expected that farmers with large farm size will practice more and better COVID-19 strategies than those with lesser farmland in the area. Finally, **Table 1** indicates that majority (54.14%) had an average annual farm income of between N800,001 and N900,000. The mean annual farm income was N880,200.00 (2267.62USD) while monthly farm income was estimated to be N73,350.00 (188.97USD). The finding implies that the farmers have a relatively low farm income despite the larger household size which they recorded. The implication of the findings is that farmers may not have the much needed financial capacity to mitigate to the negative effect of COVID-19 pandemic in their rice farming. This is true as some mitigation strategies to COVID-19 pandemic strategies are costly. Hence, farmers may have several COVID-19 pandemic strategies they want to

The result in **Figure 5**, shows farmers' awareness of COVID-19 Pandemic in the area. It shows that larger percentages (97.92%) of the farmers are aware of COVID-19

farmers had large households.

*Recent Advances in Rice Research*

**192**

practice but limited fund may continue to hinder them.

**6. Rice farmers' awareness of COVID-19 pandemic**

Pandemic while approximately 2.08% are not aware of COVID-19 Pandemic in the area. The finding shows greater proportion of that farmers are aware of COVID-19 Pandemic and may have been witnessing the negative effect. Additionally, farmers may have also developed sustainable COVID-19 pandemic strategies to thwart the negative effect of COVID-19 Pandemic to improve their farm yield, income and standard of living. The high awareness could be attributed to the massive publicity about the virus by various Nigeria news agencies, and agricultural extension agents. The extension agents have been called to help bridge gap in information for farmers.

The COVID-19 pandemic is not the first time extension agents have been called to action in an unfolding disaster. As an institution with trained technical staff who are trusted by communities, and with local reach and communication skills, extension agents has supported efforts and educated communities during crises such as HIV/ AIDS, Ebola, avian influenza, natural disasters, and pest infestations. In the same way, even though, awareness does not really signify development and use/practice of modern COVID-19 pandemic strategies, however, it could serve as an essential determinate. Ultimately, quick action from the governments coupled with credible, regular information is critical in dealing with emergencies such as COVID-19. As a critical actor in providing such information to rural areas, extension agents can do several things globally to help mitigate the economic and health impacts of COVID-19.
