EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON RICE PRICE IN NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF BAUCHI STATE

Abstract

This study examined the effects of covid-19 on rice price in northern agricultural zone of Bauchi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used in selecting 180 respondents from the study area. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire. The result of the study shows that majority (87.8% and 84.4%) were male and married, with about 56.1% of them having tertiary education. The result also revealed the mean age, mean household size and mean household head income as 46 years, 8 people per household and ₦150,000 respectively. The market price trend of rice in the study area shows that rice was sold in August at an average cost of ₦1,320/tiya in urban area, while in the rural area it was sold at an average cost of ₦1,310/tiya within the same period. The result of the regression analysis is revealed that, age of the household head and income were significant (P≤0.05) factors influencing food security in the study area. The study however, discovered that the major constraints faced by the respondents during the pandemic were high price of rice (38.3%), lack of credit (35.0%), lockdown (34.4%), high price of input (32.2%) and lack of alternative employment (29.4%) respectively. The study concluded that the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic had ensued several negative effects such as high price of rice and causes many people to lost their means of livelihood which had directly and indirectly threatened food security in the study area. The study therefore, recommended that, farmers should be encourage to go into more production of rice so that there should be more supply of the commodity to the market. Government should also provide more palliative to household to cushion the effect of the pandemic. There is also the need by Government/NGOs/ Stakeholders to create more employment opportunities in the study area.