COVID-19 LOCKDOWN AND PRICE, AVAILABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY OF RICE IN AKURE METROPOLIS, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper assessed the effect of covid-19 lockdown on price of rice before, during and after covid-19 lockdown and examined the effect of the lockdown on price, availability and accessibility of rice in Akure Metropolis. Survey design, multistage sampling (proportionate stratified, purposive and random sampling) technique were used to select respondents from four major markets within Akure Metropolis. Structured questionnaire and personal interview were used to collect data. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistic. Hypothesis was tested with Analysis of Variance. The study revealed a significant difference in the price of rice before and after the lockdown, the price of rice went up by 31.25% when the COVID-19 lockdown started, continued to be high for about four months after the lockdown and went down thereafter due to relaxed mobility, reduction in transportation cost and low purchasing power. The paper recommends an intensive government policy decision, strategies and plans to help reduce the effect of pandemic on the price of rice and make rice to be readily affordable, reachable and available during any pandemic in Ondo State in particular and Nigeria in general with the aim of preventing food insecurity and attaining food sustainability.