Article by Phoebe Sleet. Future Directions International.
December 1, 2020.
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to serious consequences for health, the economy and food security in South-East Asia. For the most part, South-East Asia has largely avoided the uncontrolled infection rates seen in much of the rest of the world, thanks to government action prioritising public health over the demands of the economy.
As South-East Asia’s economies have contracted and slowed, there have been serious concerns for food security in the region. Farming, which is a major employer in most South-East Asian countries, has experienced a significant drop in rural labour due to movement restrictions, which has caused a fall in both farm productivity and rural incomes. Overall, millions are likely to fall into poverty after 2020, including millions who were otherwise predicted to escape it. As a result, food consumption has fallen among many households and significant numbers of people have reported not being able to afford enough food.
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