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Producer organisations face challenges amidst COVID-19 pandemic
Indigenous peoples and women are amongst the most vulnerable groups and the COVID-19 pandemic has put additional weight on their shoulders. Forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs), which are partners of the Forest and Farm Facility,
have been reporting different challenges that women and indigenous peoples are facing.
In Ecuador, the Union of Peasant Organizations of Cotacachi (UNORCAC) reported that fear and lack of understanding among indigenous communities on the impacts of COVID-19 on their health and
safety remain prevalent. Communities, through communal organizations and in coordination with government institutions, have taken measures to avoid the spread of the disease in their villages. Some have opted for total isolation which created internal conflicts.
Quarantine has affected daily and income-generating activities, paralysing tourism, limiting fresh food commercialization and incurring job losses due to travel bans to other cities.
Meanwhile, TOISAN Corporation and ACAI association emphasized that communities experience limitations in decision-making. The lack of virtual communications tools used for information and decision-making has hindered members’ participation,
as face-to-face gatherings have been limited.
In Nepal, the Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN)
reports that due to the extended lockdown, which was declared until the first week of June, women producers have felt an increasing pressure in their workload. As caretakers of the family and households, they also have to
look after their farm and animals. The lockdown has negatively affected harvest of major seasonal crops including wheat, barley, potato, mustard, major pulse crops and sugarcane. This resulted in an estimated 30-40 per cent loss. April-May is normally the
season for planting maize and summer vegetable crops in the hills, and for preparing the field for major crop paddy. This year imposed movement restrictions have derailed agricultural input supply chains and affected maize planting.
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