COVID-19-related Export Restrictions and Rice Market in Benin Republic

Noel Perceval Assogba^1, , Achille Gbeto² and Filikibirou Tassou Zakari³

¹University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN, USA

²African School of Economics, Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic

³University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin Republic

Cite this paper:
Noel Perceval Assogba, Achille Gbeto and Filikibirou Tassou Zakari. COVID-19-related Export Restrictions and Rice Market in Benin Republic. Journal of Food Security. 2024; 12(4):94-98. doi: 10.12691/jfs-12-4-4

Abstract

Understanding the economic implications of staple food trade restrictions on import-dependent, low-income countries is critical for food security and poverty alleviation. In this study, we investigate the effect of COVID-19-related export restrictions on rice market in a low-income country, Benin. The equilibrium displacement modelling approach is used. The results suggest that the pandemic related trade restrictions implemented by the major rice exporting countries reduced the quantity of rice imported and consumed in Benin while increased the domestic rice production. The results also reveal that the COVID-19-related trade restrictions increased the price of rice in Benin. This study highlights the vulnerability of import dependent low-income countries to trade restrictions implemented in the rice exporting countries.

Keywords:
COVID-19 rice market producers consumers elasticity

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