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Many countries have already implemented social assistance programs, but more challenges lie ahead.

Navigating innovation amid a global pandemic.

Pandemic lockdowns have sparked creative responses to match shifting food supply with demand—showing the possibility of broader reinvention.

IFPRI’s Director General Johan Swinnen is participating in the fourth installment of the COVID-19 and International Development virtual event series sponsored by DCID and the Sanford School of Public Policy.  While COVID-19 has touched nearly every country in the world, low- and middle- income countries are particularly vulnerable to compounded effects of the pandemic. In many places, […]

Bistandsaktuelt Magazine published an article about COVID-19 leading to a global food crisis. The article referenced an IFPRI study of 600 households that found many people now live on scarce savings and have difficulty in obtaining enough food. Senior Research Fellow Kalle Hirvonen said, “The situation is not dramatic yet. Most have managed to survive on their savings. However, we are […]

Bistandsaktuelt.no (Norway) published an article suggesting that the loss of work and income in the wake of COVID-19 can lead millions of people in developing countries into extreme poverty. What kind of world will be seen after COVID-19 is uncertain. According to IFPRI, five weeks of closure (lockdown)cost Nigeria $ 18 billion or a 38 percent fall in the country’s value creation. The loss is greatest […]

The Print (India) published an op-ed from Shalander Kumar, Arabinda Padhee, and Research Fellow Anjani Kumar. The authors state that “easing of lockdown restrictions to revive the Indian economy may suggest the end of the COVID-19 ordeal for agriculture. Following the Union government’s recommendations, many states… let farmers sell farm produce anywhere. This is an opportunity to develop consensus across states to reform […]

The Independent (Nigeria) published an article that Peter Esele, former President of TUC relying on IFPRI’s study said, a possible global GDP loss of 5% this year could push another 147 million people into extreme poverty, more than half of them in sub-Saharan Africa (see blogpost, Poverty and food insecurity could grow dramatically as COVID-19 spreads). He said, “As […]

Daily Star (Bangladesh) reported on how the government has been able to buy a very insignificant quantity against its target this year, raising concerns that efforts to provide food to the poor amid the COVID-19 crisis might suffer a setback without adequate stock. The government plan had been to buy much more. Country Representative and Senior Research Fellow Akhter […]

Ethiopian Reporter published an article about the fear of a global food crisis and how it pertains to Addis Ababa. Currently, food inflation has increased by more than 23 percent, and important food inputs are slowly moving away from the market, not only for the low-income population but also for those with low-income food choices. IFPRI has completed […]

Financial Express (India) published an op-ed by Senior Research Fellow Devesh Roy, Ruchira Boss, and Mamata Pradhan. The authors wrote that farmers need to have real-time information on niche commodities and their prices to be able to tap on global export markets. 

Rwanda News Agency published an article on a project funded by the Netherlands Foreign Affairs and IFPRI. The project highlights the potential impacts of COVID-19 on food and nutrition systems in Rwanda and proposes some strategies to protect vulnerable groups. 

Economic and Political Weekly (India) published an op-ed by Deepak Varshney, former IFPRI-South Asia Region director PK Joshi, and Senior Research Fellows Devesh Roy and Anjani Kumar on the PM-Kisan scheme that aims to provide income support to farmers for easing their liquidity needs to facilitate timely access to inputs. The authors study finds utility of income support suggest that the spending […]

The Nation (Nigeria) published an article discussing the agriculture contribution to Nigeria’s nominal GDP. In 2019, agriculture contributed about 22.12% to total Nigeria’s nominal GDP. As Nigeria plans its response to the health crisis, it fears a food shortage and losses in the food supply. IFPRI has projected that an extra 148 million people will fall into extreme poverty if the […]

Global Diaspora News published an article on how the COVID-19 health crisis will lead to a global food crisis. COVID-19 will exacerbate food shortages, and an additional 147 million people may slide into extreme poverty with more than half of these coming from Sub-Saharan Africa (see blogpost, Poverty and food insecurity could grow dramatically as COVID-19 spreads). According to IFPRI, the world stares at a […]

Hindu Business Line (India) published an op-ed by Research Fellow Anjani Kumar, Deepak Varshney, and former South Asia Region director PK Joshi that discussed findings from their study. Field studies in the rural districts of three big States — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh — show that the government has managed to provide emergency relief to the vulnerable […]

Turess (Tunisia) reported on estimated job loss in the country that is already struggling with structural difficulties. COVID-19 has exacerbated those challenges. A report from IFPRI and partners stated, “The impact of COVID-19 on the economy, the agro-food sector and households in Tunisia” revealed alarming data. The report indicates that the COVID-19 crisis could lead to a 46.4% drop in the country’s GDP during the second […]

SPGlobal published an article stating that Growing tensions between the U.S. and China could knock the nearly 40% rally in the U.S. stock market off course as billions of dollars of trade and supply chain ties hang in the balance, potentially compounding the harm inflicted by the coronavirus. Senior Research Fellow Joseph Glauber said, “It would be a huge mistake […]

Agriculture.com (Successful Farming) published an article stating food prices rose sharply for the second month in a row, with beef recording its largest one-month increase ever, as the U.S. food inflation rate hit 4% in May. It is the highest rate since January 2012. Senior Research Fellow Joseph Glauber said, “The problems in meatpacking plants do not seem over, although […]

The Conversation published an op-ed by EPTD Division Director Channing Arndt, Senior Research Fellow Emeritus Sherman Robinson, and Scientist Sherwin Gabriel that stated in the case of South Africa, the lockdown policies are relatively stringent, and the economic impacts large. Along with analysis and recommendations, the authors said, “With a catastrophic global pandemic coming on top of more than a […]