FOOD CRISIS AND COVID-19 ADAPTATION STRATEGIES BY CASSAVA FARMERS IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Background: The main objectives of the study were to establish the losses of cassava labour supply and output in the presence of COVID-19.

Methods: Multi-stage sampling procedures were used in choosing 315 cassava farmers utilized for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using chi-square test and descriptive statistics.

Results: Aged illiterate persons with large household size of 11 persons dominated cassava production that were mostly women. Most cassava farmers were ill as a result of COVID-19 and respondents adaptation strategies adopted were mostly self-medication (32.1%) and traditional herbs (28.2%) methods as against health care (24.8%) method. Again, the study showed that there were losses of cassava labour supply (hours/month) and output (Kg/Ha) leading to food shortage and hunger. As part of recommendation, COVID-19 awareness campaign should be carried out periodically by medical experts. Secondly COVID-19 testing and treatment centers should be established in the rural areas.