East & Southeast Asia

In East and Southeast Asia, stringent virus containment measures are allowing for relatively early economic recovery. While the farm sector has been relatively resilient, the pandemic has affected food processing, retailers, and markets. An increase in use of e-commerce and food deliveries has helped keep supply chains running, but the effects of the economic slowdown on agrifood-sector jobs and incomes have been devastating and both international and domestic remittances have declined. Poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition in the region may increase for the first time in 20 years. In response, almost every country has implemented social protection and food assistance programs, and support to smaller enterprises. A remaining challenge is reaching urban poor, particularly those in the informal sector. As East Asian economies begin to recover, intraregional trade and cooperation has increased, which can provide additional food supply safety nets to address future shocks.