Effect on the Agriculture
Effect on the Agriculture The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2020) asserted in a report that COVID-19 is disrupting agricultural activities in two significant ways—the “supply” and “demand” for food. The pandemic has had a significant impact on the food supply; the agricultural industry has witnessed a global rush in terms of panic buying and stocking of long-lasting food, such as cereals, pasta, flour, and so on, as a result of the public’s anxiety brought on by the virus during lockdown and quarantine. (Jambar et al.) 2020). As a result, towards the middle of 2020, which was almost the peak of the first wave, there was a negative impact and a lack of essential commodities (Bochtis et al.). 2020). The circulation of domestic agricultural produce and staple products began to stabilize as domestic restrictions were eased in many of these nations, making their availability more apparent (Siche, 2020). Since most state borders were closed and international trade was limited, nations that rely heavily on imported goods cannot say the same (Pulighe & Lupia, 2020; Bochtis et al.). 2020). However, the negative impact of public restrictions on the “supply” of food led to a worldwide decrease in “demand” for food in major food service establishments like hotels, markets, and cafeterias. (Schroepfer and Berg-Weger, 2020). Because of the virus’s negative economic impact and the disease’s unpredictability, people’s spending power was reduced, and as a result, food demand decreased. Effects on Mental State The public’s fear of contracting the disease, depression, and insomnia have been reported as a result of the virus’s precarious nature, threat to livelihoods, rising global death toll, and significant number of confirmed cases worldwide (Wang et al., 2020). Since the virus’s emergence, governments and international organizations have focused more on limiting the virus’s spread and reducing its impact on the economy by enforcing policies like social isolation, quarantine, and restrictions on large-scale gatherings and activities. This prolonged isolation from the outside world and the lack of any physical contact with friends and family outside of an isolation cycle betray and disrupt the fundamental disposition and characteristic of human nature. This, in addition to anxiety about the virus’s uncertainties, financial burden, and other psychologically traumatic aspects, creates an unstable environment (Lin et al.). 2020). Cornell University researchers came to the conclusion that the former US President Donald Trump was responsible for approximately 38% of the total “misinformation conversation” (also known as the “infodemic”) regarding the pandemic (KHN, 2020). Also, according to Aksut (2020), around 200 people died in Iran from alcohol overdose, and many more were poisoned by it. Aksut says that these deaths were caused by internet claims that drinking alcohol cures the virus. According to Gao et al. (2000), regular exposure to COVID-19-related news and social media has been linked to anxiety and stress symptoms.