It is of no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot about the way we live and the way we perceive life. It has brought about a lot of changes even in the way our societies operate and some of these changes will be here long after the pandemic itself has ended.
It is said that 'crisis is the mother of innovation'-Unknown. In order to maintain stability despite the disruptions that a pandemic or any other shock might cause, it usually requires that people, societies and various systems readily adjust, adapt or transform their operations. For instance, if people in a given area start experiencing drought, they would have to start growing drought resistant crop varieties or start growing other types of crops which thrive with less water (something they never used to do before) if they are to not go hungry.
As I work on my thesis, looking at how COVID-19 is impacting the food system in Zambia, I have taken keen interest in how various people and entities are learning to live during this time and also what opportunities have possibly arisen from the COVID-19 crisis. One of the changes observed has been the development of delivery services especially for food and groceries which were almost none existent prior to the pandemic. The pandemic has seen one of the biggest chain stores in Zambia, Game stores begin to offer home delivery and pick up services for groceries. Customers can now place their orders by simply calling the store or sending a Whatsapp message, after which they can make the payment via EFT or mobile money.
There's also been an increase in small business enterprises that offer home delivery services for fruits and vegetables. The most notable ones being Just Fresh Farm Foods and Villi fresh. Just fresh farm foods prepares fruits and vegetable boxes and allows customers to order fresh fruits and vegetables from their website, on Facebook or by simply calling them. They also allow customers to customize their own fruit and vegetable boxes by selecting specific types from the varieties that they offer. The goods are then delivered at the door step of the customer at a fee. Villi Fresh was born during the COVID-19 pandemic and offers similar services as Just fresh farm foods.
The COVID-19 crisis has also given an opportunity for smallholder farmers to supply their produce to chain stores and supermarkets in Zambia that usually prefer to import certain fruits and vegetables from countries like South Africa. Lockdowns and other trade restrictions have helped to bring the realization that despite living in a world that is interconnected, it is very important for countries to develop a level of independence and self-reliance as this is a very important factor of resilience. If a country can rely on local production of certain crops to feed its people, it would be less susceptible to disruptions caused by shocks like the COVID-19.
Developments like the aforementioned make it possible for people to continue to have access to food during the crisis, thereby ensuring food security. It is hoped that some of these innovations in Zambia will last even long after the pandemic has ended.