LETTERS: The Covid-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of day-to-day life, including social life and many economic sectors. Uncertain economic conditions since the start of the pandemic has affected many, including the agriculture and food industries.
The food supply chain can be described as the different processes that occur to bring food from production to the consumer, or from farm to fork.
Generally, the supply chain consists of processes such as agricultural production, post-harvest handling, processing, distribution and retail, and lastly consumption.
The maintenance of a functional food supply chain is important in ensuring food can be provided to consumers continuously. One of the impacts of Covid-19 is the restriction of movements, causing issues in the supply chain.
As an example, the Movement Control Order (MCO) implemented travel restrictions that were further enforced by roadblocks, as well as the limitation of a 10-km travel radius.
When workers are unable to go to work due to travel restrictions, the processes in the supply chain will be incapacitated. Recent loosening of restrictions allows workers to continue working with permission from the International Trade and Industry Ministry.
Similarly, when some companies are not allowed to operate, it eventually limits the circulation of a balanced supply chain.
For example, the mushroom industry is impacted by a lack of sawdust material from the wood industry. Sawdust is the main material required as a substrate for mushroom cultivation.
Previously, lockdowns have led to other disruptions in the food supply chain due to a shortage of labour, one of the main difficulties faced by local farmers in food production. They faced many obstacles as they are reliant on workers to harvest crops, as well as for the preparation of land.
Thus, when workers face difficulty in travelling, food production will be disrupted. Moreover, labour shortages will also affect the food distribution system.
Labour shortages also cause farmers to lose revenue. For example, due to the first MCO, 2,300 farmers reportedly lost RM1 million per day as they could not sell their harvested produce and they were discarded as waste.
Similarly, it was reported that about 200 farmers were unable to sell their vegetables in Gua Musang, leading to a total loss of RM400,000 a day.
They were forced to discard up to 200 metric tonnes of vegetables per day. This situation occurs as consumers opt for online purchases rather than going out to obtain their weekly groceries.
Hence, many farmers are facing this problem. Some of the farmers even send their produce out to charity, or those who raise up white flags at their homes due to financial difficulties.
Due to the strict lockdowns, as well as many protocols involving physical distancing and travel restrictions, the food supply chain has been affected. The best we can do is to hold on till this pandemic is over.
DR RASEETHA VANI SIVA MANIKAM
NURUL EIMAN MD SAAD
Food Science and Technology Programme;
Faculty of Applied Sciences, UiTM
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times