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China Daily Global reported on how COVID-19 has forced most Southeast Asian governments to lock down their countries to stem the rise of infections. But measures meant to ensure public health safety have also led to disruptions in food supply. Senior Research Fellow Derek Headey said that Southeast Asian countries “need to keep trade channels open”. “There’s enough food […]

Mongabay (India) published an article on how nanotechnology made easily adaptable for farmers can boost agriculture in times of emergency. Making the product as a “factory-in-a-suitcase” setup, can produce fresh nano pyrite that can be run with minimum energy input. Head of the Capacity Strengthening Program at IFPRI, Suresh Babu stressed further research to make this technology available at the farmer-level and […]

 Economic Times (India) reported on the new stimulus funds from the Modi government. Former Division Director of the South Asia Region P.K. Joshi said, “It is a comprehensive package for agriculture which will not only increase farmers’ income but also boost marketing infrastructure. The Rs 1-lakh-crore fund for agri-entrepreneurs, FPOs, and startups will ready our agriculture for future challenges.”

YLE Radio (Finland) also posted an interview with Division Director (Markets, Trade, and Institutions) Rob Vos.   

YLE (Finland) published an article on whether global food prices will spike after COVID-19? It depends, among other things, on whether the large grain-exporting countries have enough restraint to keep trade going. Division Director (Markets, Trade, and Institutions) Rob Vos was quoted, “Similar price spikes [as in 2008] should not come in principle. However, there is a risk, some countries […]

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 Africa Report published an op-ed by Senior Research Fellow James Thurlow who writes, “It is too soon to assess the full economic impacts that COVID-19 lockdowns will have on developing countries. But early research indicates that many African economies are significantly impacted and that poorer households are struggling.” He states that though it is early into the research of […]

i21st (China) reported on the WFP’s warning about the COVID-19 health crisis leading to a global food crisis. Director General Johan Swinnen’s statement to the New York Times was cited. “There is no global food shortage or mass famine from the pandemic, yet. But logistics problems in planting, harvesting, and transporting food will leave poor countries unprotected in the coming months, […]

Kompasiana (Indonesia) published an article on the long-term impact of COVID-19. An IFPRI study that was conducted by 30 survey institutions focused on Africa and South Asia finding that a reduction in global GDP of around 1% will add poverty to 14-22 million people. 

Dhaka Tribune published an article on the government procurement plan and boro rice. IFPRI carried out a study through its USAID-funded Policy Research and Strategy Support Program (PRSSP) in Bangladesh with the Ministry of Agriculture commissioning the task. The Study notes that each year the food department buys far more rice than paddy under its food procurement program. Senior Research Fellow, Country Representative, […]