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India’s food supply chain during the pandemic

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  • Lowe, Matt
  • Nadhanael, G.V.
  • Roth, Benjamin N.

Abstract

We document the impact of India’s COVID-19 lockdown on the food supply chain. Food arrivals in wholesale markets dropped by 69% in the three weeks following the lockdown and wholesale prices rose by 8%. Six weeks after the lockdown began, volumes and prices had fully recovered. The initial food supply shock was highly correlated with early incidence of COVID-19. We provide evidence that this correlation is due more to state-level lockdown policy variation than local responses of those in the food supply chain. Finally, during the recovery phase, the correlation between the food supply disruption and COVID-19 exposure disappeared, suggesting uniform recovery.

Suggested Citation

  • Lowe, Matt & Nadhanael, G.V. & Roth, Benjamin N., 2021. "India’s food supply chain during the pandemic," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:105:y:2021:i:c:s0306919221001421
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102162
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    Cited by:

    1. Pallavi Rajkhowa & Lukas Kornher, 2022. "COVID-19 and distortions in urban food market in India," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 133-164, June.

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