Effect of pandemic and lockdown on the performance and operations of farmers’ markets in Southwest, Nigeria

Abstract

The study critically examined the effect of the pandemic and lockdown on the performance and operations of farmers' markets in Southwest, Nigeria. Primary data were used and the information was sourced using questionnaires. A multistage sampling technique was used to randomly select farmers for the study. Descriptive statistics, budgetary technique and two-stage least squares regression were used for the analysis. The results showed that age, revenue, perceived COVID-19 effect, household size, experience, market space acquisition, and frequent visits to farmers markets were the significant factors that influenced the performance of the farmers in the study area. Challenges faced by the farmers after lockdown on farmers markets were increased price, high cost of farm input, reduced quantity of farm products and high transportation cost. Therefore, there should be more government intervention/assistance programs as a way of assisting the farmers to boost food production and alleviate poverty in the area