Unlocking Critical Insights Into the Perceived Effects of the Indigenous People of Biafra's Sit‐at‐Home Protests on Producers and Marketers of Perishable Crops in Southeastern Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study critically analyzed the perceived effects of the Indigenous People of Biafra's (IPOB) sit‐at‐home protest on major agribusiness actors in perishable crops, as well as their coping strategies, in Southeastern Nigeria. The study adopted an equal sampling frame of 950 respondents from each of the farmers' and marketers' categories to ensure balanced representation and facilitate valid comparisons across the two major value chains. Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from 1900 randomly selected respondents. The research specifically described the socioeconomic characteristics of producers and marketers of perishable crops, examined the effect of Monday's sit‐at‐home protest on respondents, and explored the adaptation practices employed during the crisis. The study used both descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze the data. Most farmers reported substantial (37.9%) and modest (33.7%) post‐harvest losses. Most farmers (58.9%) reported a significant reduction in the price of perishable crops. Most (82%) marketers reported significant post‐harvest losses, and 51.6% reported a substantial price decrease. Also, 73.7% of marketers reported substantial profit losses, while 26.3% reported modest losses. To mitigate these perceived effects, farmers (80%) primarily adopted harvesting of “near ripe” crops ahead of the sit‐at‐home. Additionally, 52.5% of respondents used improved storage methods to extend the shelf life of their crops. The farmers (44.2%) also adopted low prices to help evacuate perishable crops during the sit‐at‐home. The study concludes that the sit‐at‐home protests have significantly disrupted agribusiness operations, resulting in economic losses for producers and marketers of perishable crops. It recommends strengthening judicial and conflict‐resolution mechanisms to address the underlying causes of civil unrest, as well as investing in rural silos and cold‐chain infrastructure to enhance farmers' storage capacity and resilience to similar disruptions.