Enduring the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Impact of COVID-19 on Small Farmers' Sustainable Livelihood in Pensiangan, Sabah, Malaysia

Jain Yassin ； Junaenah Sulehan ； Jamal Gabir

《Southeast Asian Social Science Review》 Special Issue (2021/07) Pp. 8-30

https://doi.org/10.29945/SEASSR.202107/SP.0001

摘要

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the agricultural sector has brought unprecedented challenges in Sabah, Malaysia, especially toward small and subsistence farmers in rural areas. In fact, in Sabah, rural households still depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood. Their participation in farming activities is a pertinent part of the local food chain and food security in Sabah. However, the threat of COVID-19 has brought new risks and pitfalls in their livelihood. Small farmers in Pensiangan are facing a similar predicament. Based on this situation, this paper has two objectives. It aims to identify the small farmers' imminent issues that impact their livelihood because of the pandemic in Pensiangan. Second, to deliberate the COVID-19 induced disruptions that undermined the farmer's productivity and the extent to which the small farmers could sustain these. The study refers to primary data collected using structured questionnaires posted online to selected key people affiliated to local NGOs and CSOs (Civil Society Organization) in the Pensiangan areas in May 2020. Therefore, with the help of these key people, they distributed the online questionnaires to the head of households, women, and youth farmers. The results provide insights into small farmers' agricultural sustainability during COVID-19 pandemic outbreaks. The biggest challenges faced by the small farmers in Pensiangan are mainly accessibility to transport and market their produces to the main towns, which have been their usual business. Such challenges have resulted in a massive loss of jobs and income for small farmers. Irrespective of gender and age, the pandemic has become the stumbling block to respondents who have made earlier plans to increase their income. Public agencies' interventions are not possible during the government's prohibited movement period, thus creating small farmers' livelihood precarious and insecure. In light of the COVID-19, it is essential to identify necessary social intervention and economic investment to help strengthen the small farmers' resilience for future shocks and challenges.

關鍵字

COVID-19 pandemic ； small farmers ； sustainable livelihood ； rural areas