Authors :
Abdul Rahaman Sesay; Abdul Rahaman Sesay; Mahmud Emkay Sesay
Volume/Issue :
Volume 7 - 2022, Issue 5 - May
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/3IIfn9N
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/3xPM570
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6641481
Abstract :
The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) has significantly impacted various industries
worldwide, particularly livestock. The study aims to assess
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on livestock
production in Sierra Leone's Koinadugu area. The data
was gathered from 162 livestock farmers in six chiefdoms
of the Koinadugu District. Quantitative data were collected
using semi-structured questionnaires, while qualitative
data was collected via personal observations, desk research,
and interviews. The questionnaires were administered
between February 6 and March 25, 2021. The data were
analyzed using Microsoft Excel version 2010 software.
According to the findings, pandemics have had a
detrimental influence on livestock production due to
government-imposed measures such as lockdown, stay-athome, and social distance. It impacted livestock
productivity by limiting farmers' capacity to sell livestock
products in the market (91.3%), limiting access to livestock
input supplies (84.0%), deterring access to pasture
(80.9%), and selling livestock become challenging because
dealers are scarce (96.3%). It also impacts animals' health
as there was a shortage of veterinary medicines (87.6%)
and a lack of veterinarians (80.2%). Therefore, it is
suggested that the government and other responsible
authorities should prepare and execute policies to reduce
COVID-19's pandemic impact on livestock production and
marketing chains.
Keywords :
Animal health, COVID-19 impact, Economic losses, Livestock market, Livestock production.
The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) has significantly impacted various industries
worldwide, particularly livestock. The study aims to assess
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on livestock
production in Sierra Leone's Koinadugu area. The data
was gathered from 162 livestock farmers in six chiefdoms
of the Koinadugu District. Quantitative data were collected
using semi-structured questionnaires, while qualitative
data was collected via personal observations, desk research,
and interviews. The questionnaires were administered
between February 6 and March 25, 2021. The data were
analyzed using Microsoft Excel version 2010 software.
According to the findings, pandemics have had a
detrimental influence on livestock production due to
government-imposed measures such as lockdown, stay-athome, and social distance. It impacted livestock
productivity by limiting farmers' capacity to sell livestock
products in the market (91.3%), limiting access to livestock
input supplies (84.0%), deterring access to pasture
(80.9%), and selling livestock become challenging because
dealers are scarce (96.3%). It also impacts animals' health
as there was a shortage of veterinary medicines (87.6%)
and a lack of veterinarians (80.2%). Therefore, it is
suggested that the government and other responsible
authorities should prepare and execute policies to reduce
COVID-19's pandemic impact on livestock production and
marketing chains.
Keywords :
Animal health, COVID-19 impact, Economic losses, Livestock market, Livestock production.