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A snapshot of food supply chain in Wuhan under the COVID-19 pandemic

Shi Min (College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China)
Xiaoheng Zhang (College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China)
Gucheng Li (College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China)

China Agricultural Economic Review

ISSN: 1756-137X

Article publication date: 10 September 2020

Issue publication date: 22 September 2020

3203

Abstract

Purpose

The objective is to have a better understanding of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food supply chain in Wuhan.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a simplified flow, the authors qualitatively analyze the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food supply chain. Data was gathered through a telephone survey of food suppliers in Wuhan.

Findings

The prevention measures of the COVID-19 pandemic had negative impacts on food supply chain in Wuhan. About 83.1% of food suppliers experienced a decrease in revenues. This is influenced by factors including food category on sale, purchase channel of food, food supplier's household registration and the number of the COVID-19 patients in the located community.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the limitation of available data, there is a lack of quantitative analysis on the impact on food supply chain. The sample size of food suppliers is limited.

Practical implications

This study identifies the challenges in the food supply chain resulting from the control measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan and provides a reference for the design of control measures in other regions.

Originality/value

This study supplements the literature regarding the impact of public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic on food supply chain, especially food suppliers' revenues.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the funding support from the Huazhong Agricultural University Scientific and Technological Self-innovation Foundation and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central University (No. 2662020JGPYG15). The research is financially supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No. 71873050), the National Social Sciences Foundation of China (NO. 18ZDA072), and the Philosophy and Social Sciences Project of Ministry of Education (No. 19YJC630191).

Citation

Min, S., Zhang, X. and Li, G. (2020), "A snapshot of food supply chain in Wuhan under the COVID-19 pandemic", China Agricultural Economic Review, Vol. 12 No. 4, pp. 689-704. https://doi.org/10.1108/CAER-04-2020-0056

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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