The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Security in Rural and Urban Settlements in Benin: Do Allotment Gardens Soften the Blow?

A Rapid Food Security Appraisal among 240 rural and urban dwellers in southern Benin was conducted, using univariate and bivariate analyses, to evaluate the effects of the imposed COVID-19 ‘cordon sanitaire’ on food consumption patterns. As this is one of the first empirical studies on the COVID-19...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2021-07, Vol.13 (13), p.7313
Main Authors: Houessou, Mawuna Donald, Cassee, Annemijn, Sonneveld, Ben G. J. S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bivariate analysis
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Epidemics
Food availability
Food consumption
Food security
Food supply
Gardens
Gardens & gardening
Households
Logistics
Pandemics
Restrictions
Rural areas
Supply chains
Sustainability
Urban areas
Urban farming
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Summary:A Rapid Food Security Appraisal among 240 rural and urban dwellers in southern Benin was conducted, using univariate and bivariate analyses, to evaluate the effects of the imposed COVID-19 ‘cordon sanitaire’ on food consumption patterns. As this is one of the first empirical studies on the COVID-19 food security nexus, we found that the raging pandemic has affected the food security pillars (availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability) in both rural and urban areas, within and outside the cordon sanitaire. The steepest decline was observed among respondents who live inside the cordon sanitaire, where rural producers and urban inhabitants without access to allotment gardens were hit hard. Increased food prices, disruptions in food logistics, and inability to work due to movement restrictions were most frequently indicated as reasons for the decline. Access to allotment gardens effectively supported households in mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food crisis.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su13137313