As COVID 19 pandemic sweeps across the world, we see a rapid change in the way we interact and do our business. Virtual existence is a new reality as we confine to our homes, do video conferences, facetime with families, zoom with teachers, and approach telemedicine, making social distancing new normal. Technology is now a lifeline, no more a choice or luxury, even octogenarians use apps for home delivery of their daily necessities. Home delivery is not common only from retailers or groceries; farmers have organized themselves to deliver farm produce to consumers by connecting through digital platforms or mobile devices. Delivery of training packages through digital means has become popular during the lockdown. These adaptations during the crisis give some sense of optimism that resilient communities would emerge out of this horrific pandemic.
Looming Crisis
Corona has not spared any country rich or poor, north or south, first world or third world. The lives and livelihoods of millions is at peril. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) projects that globally over 140 million people could fall into extreme poverty (measured against $1.90 poverty line) in 2020- an increase of 20% from the present level. This number may go up as we do not know how long it will take the world to return to the situation before corona. Experts warn the health crisis is turning into a food crisis, which may be even more devastating. Indeed, 2020 will undoubtedly leave an impact for years to come in every aspect of human life.
The return of migrant workers from abroad due to the corona crisis is another nightmare for many developing countries. Governments will have to deal with two immediate challenges: a) increased food security threat due to disruption of the food supply chain; b) socio-political ramifications of unemployment created due to the economic slow down within the country. Additionally, the return of migrant workers from abroad will have immense pressure on the governments on both fronts, food security, and employment creation. The COVID will have a differential impact on migration for developed and developing countries. An acute shortage of migrant workers has damaged the food production system of developed countries. There will be a push to find an alternate way of doing farm operations. The developed countries would eventually accelerate the automation capacities replacing migrant workers. On the other hand, developing countries would see a decline in the foreign labor market. Governments will have to absorb the large labor force within the country with this shift of global migration dynamics.
The Silver Lining
Farmers have faced new and unprecedented challenges of lockdown and disruption of the supply chain system. They cannot postpone sowing seeds in their land, unlike canceling a conference or football match. They have to sell their produce amid all odds of the pandemic.
Even though an overwhelmingly bleak situation portrayed by media, anecdotal stories show that farmers have navigated through the difficult time to deliver their produce to the doorsteps of customers using digital platforms in different parts of the world, connecting directly to consumers. Digitalization of agriculture, including the use of mobile technologies and devices, internet, digitally -delivered services, and apps, has been at the forefront of modern agriculture. However, the application of the tools has been at a limited scale in developing countries; only innovators and smart entrepreneurs have been able to benefit from these tools. There are several reasons why developing countries are not able to scale up the adoption of this technology; we will not enter into this discussion here. The forced use of digital technology has intensified the existing trend of digitalization in all walks of life, including farming. Farmers, instead of relying on market intermediaries to collect their produce, have organized themselves to connect to the consumers.
Similarly, development workers and service providers have made digital platforms means of disseminating technical information and rendering services. Pandemic has taught us those who adapt can survive. Digitalization has thus stood out as a silver lining of COVID 19. And, there is reason to believe that post-COVID agriculture will be an information-based high tech enterprise where youth can see their future.