Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Red Meat Production in Turkey in 2020

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the amount of meat consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath on a monthly and seasonal basis for the years 2019 and 2020 in our country. The normality of the data distribution was analyzed using histogram graphs, Q-Q plots, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The significance of the difference between two independent groups in terms of carcass quantities was evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test, while the significance of the difference between more than two groups was assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Bonferroni tests were used for multiple group comparisons. Data are presented as Median (1st and 3rd Quartile). A significance level of P<0.05 was set. COVID-19 is a major pandemic that has spread worldwide and affected the lives of many people. From the beginning of the pandemic, many individuals and sectors have been impacted. Furthermore, it has been observed that the COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected the economy of people and countries but also significantly impacted many businesses operating in the food and health sectors. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a broad impact encompassing health, economy, psychology, socio-cultural, and political areas. In this process, it has become a critical necessity to develop short- and medium-term economic and technical solutions for problems in the agriculture and livestock sectors and to plan long-term agricultural and livestock policies. Additionally, to ensure the continuity of agricultural and livestock activities in Türkiye under challenging conditions such as pandemics, natural disasters, and wars, there is a need to review existing agricultural policies and create urgent action plans.