COVID-19 IMPACTS ON FOOD SYSTEMS IN PACIFIC ISLANDS
COVID-19 impacts on food systems in Pacific Islands…
The COVID-19 pandemic impacts the food systems in the Pacific Island Developing States. So far, the pandemic is upending daily life in most countries and economies. Most cities are in lockdown, businesses are shut down, borders closed, and bans on gatherings.
Thus far, Fiji may be the only country that confirms positive cases of The COVID-19. Many other islands countries are officially free of the coronavirus. In fact, it has been through good management. They put in prompt strict restrictions to prevent the disease from spreading. Thus far, these restrictions may have had a negative effect on these countries. They are heavily reliant on imports, and tourism. So, the COVID-19 impacts tourism and the economy. Supply chains are mostly affecting food systems in the Pacific region too.
Economic impacts
Tourism, so far, contributes up to 70 percent of the GDP in some countries. It may generate up to 34 percent employment. For example, in 2019, tourism income for Fiji was almost USD$900 million, 17.2 percent of GDP; Samoa USD$193.5 million, 23 percent of GDP; Vanuatu USD$175.8 million, 19.3 percent, Cook Islands USD$238.2 million, 73.3 percent and Tonga USD$59.1 million, 10.4 percent.
So, tourism provides a larger domestic marketplace for local agriculture produce and seafood products. Thus far, in 2017, Fiji’s main tourism area hotels and resorts spent USD$36.4 million on fresh food purchases. In comparison, USD$18.9 million was spent on imported goods.
A significant reduction has been seen in tourism because of strict travel restrictions globally. It results in a major recession in tourism-dependent economies in the Pacific. So far, countries such as Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, and Vanuatu are the worst hit. It affects Tonga to a lesser extent.
COVID-19 restrictions may cause a high risk to lose jobs for people working in urban areas. These people may mostly work in corporate sectors and government services. So, larger employment losses may be seen from the decline in the tourism sector.
Locally grown food supply
Agriculture in the Pacific island nations mostly depends on smaller holding farms. Thus far, the smallholder production comprises a mixture of vegetables, fruits, and root crops. It may include livestock too. However, it may be mostly for household consumption. So, the local production of food products plays a key part in the economy. It creates employment, food security, and nutrition in the Pacific region. So far, supply chains of locally grown produce for domestic markets are short. Farmers, traders, distributors, and retailers are the key players in the supply chain.
After the products are harvested, they need to be cleaned and packaged. Then they need to be transported to the markets. Thus far, the supply of domestic food production to the markets is decreasing and prices are on the rise. In fact, a ban on people’s movements, travel restrictions low demands in the tourism sector may be the factors causing reductions in the supply chain. Other reasons that affect are a cut in business operations, safety restrictions, and a ban on market vendors.
Imported foods supply chain
Imported foods play a key role in many Pacific Islands. In fact, in some countries, they have become staples foods. For example, rice, flour, and noodles are now a staple food in the Solomon Islands. The five popular primary sector foods for most Pacific nations are meat, cereals, cereal products, beverages, and food preparations.
So far, Pacific Islands spend billions of dollars on imported foods, mostly on primary sector products. Should the pandemic continue, it may have a serious impact on food systems in the Pacific region.
Protein food
The main source of protein in the region is fish. Pacific region experiences an average national fish intake between 55kg to 100kg per person per annum. It is almost 3 to 6 times more than the global average consumption. So far, the fish supply chain is already experiencing disruptions in transport, trade, and labour. The tuna industry is crucial for the region. It provides shelf-stable food with canned tuna and royalty revenue from licensing of fishing companies. Thus far, due to COVID-19, it is difficult to replace crew, access to vessels, and the 14-day quarantine time frame going to the ports.
So, it disturbs vessel operations. Vessels sometimes wait for more than a week which costs them USD$50,000 to $60,000 per day per vessel. Thus, they may lose almost USD$130,000 per day per vessel in quarantine while at the port. Such disruptions affect small-scale fish supply chains too. In many islands, under the state of emergency orders, fish markets may close, including roadside fishing stalls. Thus, fish vendors lose weekly income and consumers lack access to fish.
Food systems
The future of pandemics appears unpredictable. So, if it continues, people reliant on income from these sectors will decline. Thus, they may lose purchasing power and jobs. Losing incomes as a result of declines in the tourist industry, general household, and business expenditure will hit these nations extremely hard.
The food systems in the Pacific Islands will further deteriorate because of limits on imported food. Hence, food prices will rise. The global financial crisis is testimony to the major impact it had on food prices. Furthermore, access to imported food was limited in the region.
