Concerns expressed so far tend to focus on farmer income rather than food security. A family farm that is not providing a high cash income through sale of crops or livestock is not in trouble, in this pandemic, while it is still adequately feeding the family. Money is needed in most of these rural economies, to pay fees for school attendance, for taxes, fuel, other material needs, travel, and the transport of products and inputs. But during a time of crisis, surely the governments in these regions can legislate assistance to cover essentials, while suspending fees and rents until the virus is under control. In the meantime, the access to seeds and water, to grow food crops that can be used on-farm, or shared/marketed locally, seems to me to be a higher priority than continuing the access to commercial markets.
Dr. Helga Vierich-Drever