June 2020, Southeast Asia 

THE coronavirus disease of 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic not only highlighted the flaws of various food systems in the world but also emphasized one vital thing that has been ailing the farm sector: neglect for food production.

The disruptions in domestic trade caused by lockdowns have resulted in an imbalance in the food supply, resulting in the shortage of food products in certain areas like the metropolis while having a glut in food-production areas.

Such a situation, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said, puts cities, particularly those in developing countries like the Philippines, in a vulnerable state with the urban poor having to bear the brunt of the food system disruptions.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is disrupting urban food systems worldwide, posing a number of challenges for cities and local governments that are obliged to deal with rapid changes in food availability, accessibility and affordability – which strongly impact the food security and nutrition situation of urban populations,” the FAO said in a policy brief.