Effect of Covid 19 on butchers and their coping strategies in Kampala district

Abstract

The study examined the effect of Covid-19 on butchers and their coping strategies using data collected from120 butchers in Kampala City. The results show that COVID-19 reduced volumes of meat supplied and sold, number of consumers and increased the buying and selling prices during the lockdown. After the lockdown was lifted, number of consumers, Quantity of meat supplied and sold increased but below original levels while prices continued to increase. The effects of Covid-19 were associated with butcher’s experience, age, liquidity, and number of meat sources. The main coping strategies were to increase the sales price, reducing quantity bought from the source, using E-transactions and diversification to alternative economic activities mainly farming, trading and boda-boda riding. Based on results, we recommend that any support to butcher men should target youths and inexperienced butcher men to boost their liquidity and encourage them to diversify by selling different types of meat.