The effect of COVID-19 on the maize subsector in Gomba district, Uganda.

Abstract

Most families in the sub-Saharan Africa countries mostly depend on agriculture for their livelihoods as they produce for both the subsistence and commercial purposes. As a result of this dependence on agriculture, certain factors may hinder their activities of which these may include disasters which may be natural or man-made. Such disasters may be outbreaks of disease which may have an effect on the farmers’ efficiency and as well as productivity. The COVID-19 pandemic that affected the entire globe and other sectors of the economy had an effect on the agricultural sector including the maize subsector. Given its impacts on the farmers in terms of their production, marketing and income, there was a need to carry out the study and be able to understand and make recommendations on how to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on maize farmers. This study may guide in proper allocation of the budget by the parliamentary committees towards the improvement of the agricultural sector in the economy. As result of this study, new policies will be formulated, and the study will provide the right information to move the economy forward even with the existence of the pandemic.