Here’s Why Demand For Seeds Is At An All-Time High Right Now

With many people spending most of their time at home, there has been an increase in demand for many items. From toilet paper to seeds, this increase in demand during the Covid 19 pandemic has led to several commodity shortages. In the spring season of the past year, there were several reports about seed shortages as many people started their own "pandemic gardens." 

Many seed companies had to temporarily put a hold on new orders due to the overwhelming surge in demand. This high demand for seeds can be attributed to having many people stuck in their homes. Naturally, a lot of people will turn to home-based activities like gardening. This has therefore boosted sales of gardening supplies, including seeds. 

While the world may feel rather grey at times right now, seed companies are having their moment in the sun, with some of them reporting that orders are more than six times higher than usual. Agricultural and horticultural societies online are also seeing a rise in queries as people seek outdoor gardening advice. 

Due to this rising demand, during times when staffing numbers are low as a result of the pandemic, the demand is even rising higher. The shortages that occurred last year have led to people rushing to try and secure stock before the growing season. This low-key panic mode has also contributed to the spike in demand for seeds this year. Due to this demand, some companies have even limited their online sales, allowing sales for only periods of two hours during the day on select days. 

Agricultural experts are warning that the current spike in demand can lead to more severe problems in the coming few years. Seed supplies usually work with a multi-annual production calendar, and a very high demand now might deny them time to replenish their stock.

Many families globally are shifting their attention to gardening as a relaxing, family-friendly activity that will also contribute to their food supply. With the lockdown extending over several months in some areas, there are rising concerns over food security. Besides seeds, the sales of fruits and vegetables are jumping all over the world as well. 

The global lockdowns have also caused a rise in stress levels in adults. Normally people would engage in other activities to unwind, but with safety concerns, gardening is a perfect choice. It is a home-based activity, and it's outdoors. It can also be a great way to bond as a family and engage kids. There is also a lot of research online indicating how gardening can be therapeutic and how it can relieve stress and anxiety.

In the United States, Jaime Calder, an editor of a popular magazine editor, described how her family had since dropped gardening a while ago. She indicated that ever since they changed cities, they never got to establish a garden at their new home, but the Covid 19 pandemic managed to change all that. 

Calder, her family of five and many other families with similar stories have started engaging in gardening again while buckling down at home during the lockdown periods. Most families are viewing gardening as a supplementary activity, with some even amping up and trying to produce more so that they can spend less money buying from stores. 

Some families in other parts of the world like Russia are spending their lockdowns in out-of-town cottages where there are plots with arable land. Gardening is also becoming increasingly popular there as people realize that they have more than enough time on their hands.

It's expected that in times like this, people become concerned about their food security. In other areas, things got so bad that families had to put orders into their local stores in advance and then wait for about a week to get what they ordered. Incidences like those have driven the entire population into a state of panic. In the 21st century, this is the first time people have had to experience such conditions. 

The good thing is that for now, there have been no shortages reported when it comes to seeds. While demand is high, the supplies are still able to cater to the entire population. Fortunately, no one can hoard seeds. There only seemed to be a shortage in the past year because most companies do not warehouse pre-packaged seeds in large quantities. 

For seeds to be distributed to companies for sale, they have to be weighed, packed and then transported. This process takes time, and companies have to wait and adjust to the sudden spike in demand before they can match the influx of orders. It is expected that soon the demand and supply will be at the same level. Last year, the start of the pandemic clashed with the onset of spring which threw suppliers off balance because usually, not a lot of people would be interested in outdoor gardening. 

Gardening has so far managed to make a lot of people smile amidst all the worry and negativity. Because of those who are not able to produce for themselves, the demand for early season crops has also spiked, leading to vegetable producers needing more seeds as well. The general advice from supplies is for those who are currently unable to place orders for seeds to be patient as everyone is trying to adjust to suit the new dynamic. If anyone fails to start their garden right away, there is no need to be anxious. The slowing down is only for suppliers to be able to catch up and meet the current demand. 

It is also advisable to order seeds early so that as you prepare the land and get ready, the seeds will be on their way. Most seed supplies predict that the situation this year will be better than the last. In the past year, people had reached a point of desperation, and they simply needed something to spice up their lives and regain hope. This year people have adjusted and have grown more accustomed to the present situation; therefore, things are on their way to normalizing.