Survey: Short-term impacts of COVID-19 in rural Guatemala call for a closer, continuous look at the food security and nutritional patterns of vulnerable families

BY FRANCISCO CEBALLOS, MANUEL HERNANDEZ AND CYNTHIA PAZ

Global patterns and local variations of COVID-19 impacts on income, food security, and dietary diversity are gradually emerging. In this post, Francisco Ceballos, Manuel Hernandez, and Cynthia Paz document these effects on the vulnerable population of the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Their findings track those in many places, including greater income losses among higher-income households but greater vulnerability among the poor. They review the policy responses and the implementation challenges in reaching rural households, and – given the pandemic’s long duration and the ambition to improve social programs – propose a follow-up study to assess longer-term impacts and lessons.—John McDermott, series co-editor and Director, CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH).

Photo credit: Allison del Valle/PCI