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BACKGROUND: African indigenous vegetables are important for food security and nutrition, and income of the poor farm households. In the era of COVID-19, they are critical for boosting people's immunity. Unfortunately, both production of and trade in these vegetables is likely to be severely affected by the pandemic. METHODS: This study examined potential effects of COVID-19 pandemic on production and trade of African indigenous vegetables using a cross-sectional survey of 244 farmers and 246 traders from different regions in Kenya. RESULTS: COVID-19 has a negative impact on production and trading of AIVs in Kenya. Findings indicate that 75% of the farmers are experiencing declining production due to reduced access to input, farm labour and output market. Secondly, about 98% of the traders have recorded a drop in sales volumes due to containment measures implemented by the government and personal safety precautions. In particular, farmers' production and traders' sales volumes declined by 39 and 65%, respectively, during the first phase of the pandemic. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the sub-sector requires targeted interventions which may include input support, careful reopening and control of the open-air markets, reduced taxation and facilitated access to urban markets.

The study provides CTA with recommendations on the types of value chains to be supported and information on particular nodes that CTA could be involved in. It focuses on the IGAD region, which includes eight member states: Djibouti, Somalia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya, and on a select number of livestock commodity value chains. The study obtained data and information from ongoing and recently completed programmes. ; European Union ; Internal Review