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Takeshima H, Masias I, Win MT, Zone PP. Effects of COVID-19 restrictions on mechanization service providers and mechanization equipment retailers: Insights from phone surveys in Myanmar. Rev Dev Econ 2022; 27:RODE12940. [PMID: 36245690 PMCID: PMC9539075 DOI: 10.1111/rode.12940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Agrifood sector mechanization service providers (MSP) and mechanization equipment retailers (MER) have increasingly become the providers of mechanical technologies for smallholders in developing countries, including Myanmar. Evidence remains scarce on the effects of COVID-19 on these MSPs and MERs. This study provides insights into the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on MSPs and MERs in Myanmar, using unbalanced panel data from five rounds of phone surveys. Direct responses to COVID-19 involving movement restrictions, market disruptions, and growing financial challenges had significant negative effects on revenue prospects, service delivery, and sales of machines and equipment. Negative revenue prospects during a particular period can further hurt revenue prospects in subsequent periods. This is consistent with the hypotheses that MSPs who had incurred high sunk costs in machines can engage in more desperate and, thus, potentially suboptimal business practices to recover the sunk cost. Overall, policies to minimize movement restrictions and various financial struggles and mitigate any pessimism at the beginning of the production season are all important to make sure MSPs and MERs continue to function effectively under COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ian Masias
- International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)YangonMyanmar
| | - Myat Thida Win
- Department of AgriculturalFood, and Resource Economics of Michigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
| | - Phoo Pye Zone
- International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)YangonMyanmar
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Boughton D, Goeb J, Lambrecht I, Headey D, Takeshima H, Mahrt K, Masias I, Goudet S, Ragasa C, Maredia MK, Minten B, Diao X. Impacts of COVID-19 on agricultural production and food systems in late transforming Southeast Asia: The case of Myanmar. Agric Syst 2021; 188:103026. [PMID: 36570045 PMCID: PMC9757923 DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2020.103026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this contribution is to report the initial impacts of measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic on Myanmar's agri-food system. Myanmar is one of several late-transforming low-income countries in Southeast Asia where agriculture still plays a large role in rural livelihoods, and where food prices are a key factor affecting nutrition security for poor urban and rural households. Whereas the economic impacts of COVID-19 disruptions on tourism and manufacturing were obvious to policymakers, the impacts on the agri-food system were less evident and often more indirect. This resulted in the rural sector being allocated only a very small share of the government's initial fiscal response to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19. To correct this information gap, a suite of phone surveys covering a wide spectrum of actors in the agri-food system were deployed, including farm input suppliers, mechanization service providers, farmers, commodity traders, millers, food retailers and consumers. The surveys were repeated at regular intervals prior to and during the main crop production season which began shortly after nationwide COVID-19 prevention measures were implemented in April. While the results indicate considerable resilience in the agri-food system in response to the initial disruptions, persistent financial stress for a high proportion of households and agri-food system businesses indicate that the road to a full recovery will take time. The experience provides important lessons for strengthening the resilience of the agri-food system, and the livelihoods of households that depend on it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan Boughton
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, Justin S Morrill Hall of Agriculture, 446 West Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Joseph Goeb
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, Justin S Morrill Hall of Agriculture, 446 West Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Isabel Lambrecht
- Development Strategy and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, 1201 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20005-3915, USA
| | - Derek Headey
- Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, 1201 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20005-3915, USA
| | - Hiroyuki Takeshima
- Development Strategy and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, 1201 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20005-3915, USA
| | - Kristi Mahrt
- Development Strategy and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, 1201 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20005-3915, USA
| | - Ian Masias
- Development Strategy and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, 1201 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20005-3915, USA
| | - Sophie Goudet
- Independent consultant and Academic visitor, School of Sport, Exerise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Ragasa
- Development Strategy and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, 1201 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20005-3915, USA
| | - Mywish K Maredia
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, Justin S Morrill Hall of Agriculture, 446 West Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Bart Minten
- Development Strategy and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, 1201 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20005-3915, USA
| | - Xinshen Diao
- Development Strategy and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, 1201 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20005-3915, USA
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