Agricultural Supply Chain Analysis During Supply Chain Disruptions: Case of Teff Commodity Supply Chain in Ethiopia in the era of COVID-19

Current state agricultural supply chain analysis for essential commodities like Teff in Ethiopia is necessary to avoid supply chain disruption caused by events like COVID 19. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of COVID-19 on the agriculture and food sector. It has taken into account both qualitative and quantitative mixed approaches. The study has been conducted to analyze the resilient teff value chain across teff supply chain members from production to consumption by comparing two production areas in Ethiopia. Cross-sectional descriptive surveys at different stages of the supply chain are identified. Data collection has been made based on the purposive sampling technique. It has then, analyzed the data and reach on conclusion. The findings revealed that wealth was not accumulated by farmers to create a sustainable supply of Teff to the consumers which is not enough to respond to the demand gap created in the event of supply chain disruption. Teff value chain analysis also indicated that consumers have low price expectations of Teff regardless of its high price at the retail shop. Since March 2020 Due to COVID 19 prevalence in Ethiopia, lockdown that disrupts goods and people move from rural to urban has resulted in a sharp Teff price increase from an average of 4200 per Quintal to 5000 Birr per Quintal in just one month at the retail shop. This has significantly benefited downstream supply chain members like wholesalers and retailers by hoarding Teff supply to consumers until regulatory bodies took action on price hikes by retailers. Finally, recommendations have been forwarded among the others include- to enlarge subsidies for Ethiopian farmers to boost agricultural production, hedge farmers against price fluctuation and avail warehouses for stocking agricultural commodities to buffer against future uncertainties are the major ones that the government has to apply.