Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Socio-economic Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Smallholder Livelihoods in Zimbabwe

Version 1 : Received: 13 April 2020 / Approved: 14 April 2020 / Online: 14 April 2020 (08:50:30 CEST)

How to cite: Mhlanga, D.; Ndhlovu, E. Socio-economic Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Smallholder Livelihoods in Zimbabwe. Preprints 2020, 2020040219. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202004.0219.v1 Mhlanga, D.; Ndhlovu, E. Socio-economic Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Smallholder Livelihoods in Zimbabwe. Preprints 2020, 2020040219. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202004.0219.v1

Abstract

The article revisits previous viruses such as Ebola to extrapolate the socio-economic implications of the COVID-19. Using secondary sources and the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) to guide understanding, the article argues that unless measures are put in place to safeguard smallholder activities in Zimbabwe, COVID-19 has the potential to reproduce the same catastrophic implications created by Ebola in West African countries where peasant food systems where shattered and livelihoods strategies maimed. With a perceptible withdrawal of the government from small-scale farming towards large-scale capital intensive operations, smallholders could now be even more vulnerable. The article concludes that social assistance should now be intensified to protect its vulnerable population from the ravages of COVID-19.

Keywords

COVID-19; livelihoods; smallholders; Zimbabwe

Subject

Business, Economics and Management, Economics

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0
Metrics 0


×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.