The Perspective of Vegetable Farmers in Readiness to Face the Post Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Tabulation Analysis

Abstract

The ability of farmers to anticipate, avoid, and react to threats and shocks depends on their capacity to handle agricultural alarms. This study aims to determine whether farmers’ demographic characteristics and readiness for the post-Covid-19 pandemic are related. This study reports the results of a survey in which 503 farmers in Peninsular Malaysia took part, using a structured questionnaire to examine farmers’ perceptions of their readiness for post-Covid-19 problems. Chi-square testing and cross-tabulation analysis were used to assess the factors influencing farmers’ perceptions of their readiness to meet the difficulties. According to the Chi-square test results, farmers’ age was significantly (p<0.05) correlated with their technological skills. The findings also show a significant correlation between education level towards technology, implementation, and decision-making skills (p<0.05). The results confirmed that farmers’ backgrounds and demography affected how farmers were able to prepare to face upcoming issues and challenges. Therefore, the government must assist farmers and train them to improve their backgrounds to lessen their vulnerability and increase their capacity to meet challenges following COVID-19. This study suggests solid outputs that will help extension agents to approach farmers based on their participation in a participatory approach to creating, introducing, and using technology related to readiness for any circumstances.