Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Livestock Production in Koinadugu District, Sierra Leone


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.

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