Economic impact of poultry supply chain disruptions on food security: Evidence from Post-Pandemic Market Volatility in West Africa
Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, USA.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023, 20(03), 2380-2394
Publication history:
Received on 29 October 2023; revised on 19 December 2023; accepted on 27 December 2023
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the fragility of global and regional food systems, with poultry supply chains in West Africa particularly exposed to unprecedented disruptions. Poultry, as a vital source of affordable protein, plays a central role in regional nutrition security and rural livelihoods. However, pandemic-induced restrictions on movement, rising input costs, and interruptions in cross-border trade destabilized supply chains, creating ripple effects across production, distribution, and consumption. These shocks not only affected market prices and availability but also deepened inequalities between smallholder farmers and industrial producers, while threatening the food security of low-income households. This study investigates the economic impact of poultry supply chain disruptions on food security in post-pandemic West Africa, employing a mixed-methods approach combining market price analysis, household survey data, and simulation modeling. Results reveal persistent volatility in feed and live-bird markets, with price spikes disproportionately affecting consumers in urban centers. Smallholder farmers reported income losses due to limited access to veterinary services and reduced demand during critical lockdown periods, whereas larger firms demonstrated greater resilience by leveraging integrated supply networks. The findings highlight a dual vulnerability: while consumers face declining purchasing power amid volatile markets, producers contend with uncertain recovery trajectories. Policy simulations suggest that targeted interventions such as strategic grain reserves for feed, regional coordination of veterinary services, and emergency financial support for smallholders can stabilize the poultry sector and safeguard food security. In conclusion, strengthening resilience within poultry supply chains is essential to mitigating future systemic shocks, ensuring that West Africa’s most accessible protein source remains affordable, available, and sustainable.
Keywords:
Poultry Supply Chains; Food Security; Market Volatility; Post-Pandemic Economy; West Africa; Livelihood Resilience
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Copyright © 2023 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0