scholarly journals Production diversity and dietary diversity in smallholder farm households

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (34) ◽  
pp. 10657-10662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kibrom T. Sibhatu ◽  
Vijesh V. Krishna ◽  
Matin Qaim
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Market Access ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Smallholder Farm ◽  
Production Diversity ◽  
On Farm

Undernutrition and micronutrient malnutrition remain problems of significant magnitude in large parts of the developing world. Improved nutrition requires not only better access to food for poor population segments, but also higher dietary quality and diversity. Because many of the poor and undernourished people are smallholder farmers, diversifying production on these smallholder farms is widely perceived as a useful approach to improve dietary diversity. However, empirical evidence on the link between production and consumption diversity is scarce. Here, this issue is addressed with household-level data from Indonesia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Malawi. Regression models show that on-farm production diversity is positively associated with dietary diversity in some situations, but not in all. When production diversity is already high, the association is not significant or even turns negative, because of foregone income benefits from specialization. Analysis of other factors reveals that market access has positive effects on dietary diversity, which are larger than those of increased production diversity. Market transactions also tend to reduce the role of farm diversity for household nutrition. These results suggest that increasing on-farm diversity is not always the most effective way to improve dietary diversity in smallholder households and should not be considered a goal in itself. Additional research is needed to better understand how agriculture and food systems can be made more nutrition-sensitive in particular situations.

scholarly journals Farm production, market access and dietary diversity in Malawi

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Koppmair ◽  
Menale Kassie ◽  
Matin Qaim
Keyword(s):  
Market Access ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Farm Households ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Farm Production ◽  
Recall Data ◽  
Smallholder Farm ◽  
Farm Produce ◽  
Production Diversity

AbstractObjectiveThe association between farm production diversity and dietary diversity in rural smallholder households was recently analysed. Most existing studies build on household-level dietary diversity indicators calculated from 7d food consumption recalls. Herein, this association is revisited with individual-level 24 h recall data. The robustness of the results is tested by comparing household- and individual-level estimates. The role of other factors that may influence dietary diversity, such as market access and agricultural technology, is also analysed.DesignA survey of smallholder farm households was carried out in Malawi in 2014. Dietary diversity scores are calculated from 24 h recall data. Production diversity scores are calculated from farm production data covering a period of 12 months. Individual- and household-level regression models are developed and estimated.SettingData were collected in sixteen districts of central and southern Malawi.SubjectsSmallholder farm households (n408), young children (n519) and mothers (n408).ResultsFarm production diversity is positively associated with dietary diversity. However, the estimated effects are small. Access to markets for buying food and selling farm produce and use of chemical fertilizers are shown to be more important for dietary diversity than diverse farm production. Results with household- and individual-level dietary data are very similar.ConclusionsFurther increasing production diversity may not be the most effective strategy to improve diets in smallholder farm households. Improving access to markets, productivity-enhancing inputs and technologies seems to be more promising.

scholarly journals Construction and Interpretation of Production and Market Metrics Used to Understand Relationships with Dietary Diversity of Rural Smallholder Farming Households

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 749
Author(s):  
Eric O. Verger ◽  
Cédric Gaillard ◽  
Andrew D. Jones ◽  
Roseline Remans ◽  
Gina Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Market Access ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Production Diversity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Farming Households

Indicators of agricultural production diversity and market access and/or participation have often been used to try to understand how agricultural production and markets influence dietary diversity of rural smallholder households. Based on a standardized search strategy, 37 studies investigating the association between an indicator of agricultural production diversity and any indicator of dietary diversity were reviewed. The characteristics of the indicators of agricultural production diversity, as well as indicators of market access and/or participation, were assessed. This review demonstrated the wide range of indicators; four types and 14 subtypes of indicators of agricultural production diversity were found in the 37 studies, and three types and 14 subtypes of indicators of market access and/or participation were found in 25 studies. While diversity of measurement ideas allows flexibility, it precludes comparability with other studies and might make it difficult to build a robust body of evidence of the impact of agriculture at farm household level on food security, diet, and nutrition.

scholarly journals On- and Off-Farm Diversification and Travel Time to Markets: Linkages to Food Security in Rural Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Bergau ◽  
Tim K. Loos ◽  
Orkhan Sariyev
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Food And Nutrition Security ◽  
Farm Diversification ◽  
Nutrition Security ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Production Diversity ◽  
On Farm

AbstractFood insecurity persists in large parts of Ethiopia. Recent literature suggests that both on-farm and off-farm diversification, as well as access to agricultural markets, may help improve household dietary diversity scores (HDDS) as an indicator for food and nutrition security. While the HDDS is frequently used, a diversity score for the production side has rarely been applied at a comparable level of (dis-)aggregation. Employing socio-economic data collected covering 400 Ethiopian smallholder farmers, this study investigates how the travel time to markets, non-farm income, and on-farm production diversity associate with household food and nutrition security. Findings suggest that production diversity and higher non-farm income are linked to more diverse diets. With longer travel time to markets, food consumption is less varied. Production diversity and increased market participation do not appear to be mutually exclusive, and thus, should be considered equally when developing policy interventions.

scholarly journals Implications of food-for-work programs for consumption and production diversity: Evidence from the Tigray Region of Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethelhem Legesse Debela ◽  
Gerald E. Shively ◽  
Stein T. Holden
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Northern Ethiopia ◽  
Transfer Programs ◽  
Crop Choice ◽  
Tigray Region ◽  
Food Variety ◽  
Production Diversity

AbstractFood-based transfer programs have the potential to change diets or alter basic crop mixes. This study empirically investigates the associations between participating in food-for-work (FFW) programs and the diversity of food consumption and production. Four waves of panel data from the Tigray Region of Northern Ethiopia, covering the period 2001–2010, are used to estimate a series of panel data regressions. A dose-response model is used to measure how the intensity of FFW participation aligns with dietary outcomes. Results show that FFW participants had greater household dietary diversity compared with non-participants, with an average magnitude equivalent to one-fifth of a standard deviation in the food variety score. When items directly provided by the FFW program are excluded from the variety score, the overall effect is statistically weaker, but similar in sign and magnitude, suggesting modest “crowding in” of dietary diversity from FFW participation. FFW participation was not correlated with changes in production diversity, suggesting that the labor demands of the program did not alter crop choice. Findings have relevance for interventions that aim to improve food security and promote dietary quality in low-income populations.

scholarly journals How well do different dietary and nutrition assessment tools match? Insights from rural Kenya

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Fongar ◽  
Theda Gödecke ◽  
Antony Aseta ◽  
Matin Qaim
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Food Access ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Anthropometric Measures ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Rural Kenya

AbstractObjectiveVarious indicators and assessment tools exist to measure diets and nutrition. Most studies eventually rely on one approach. Relatively little is known about how closely results match when different tools are used in the same context. The present study compares and correlates different indicators for the same households and individuals to better understand which indicators can be used as proxies for others.DesignA survey of households and individuals was carried out in Kenya in 2015. Seven-day food consumption and 24 h dietary recalls were administered at household and individual level, respectively. Individual height and weight measures were taken. Different indicators of food access (energy consumption, household dietary diversity scores), dietary quality (individual dietary diversity scores, micronutrient intakes) and nutrition (anthropometric indicators) were calculated and correlated to evaluate associations.SettingRural farm households in western Kenya.ParticipantsData collected from 809 households and 1556 individuals living in these households (782 female adults, 479 male adults, 295 children aged 6–59 months).ResultsAll measures of food access and dietary quality were positively correlated at individual level. Household-level and individual-level dietary indicators were also positively correlated. Correlations between dietary indicators and anthropometric measures were small and mostly statistically insignificant.ConclusionsDietary indicators from 7d food consumption recalls at the household level can be used as proxies of individual dietary quality of children and male and female adults. Individual dietary diversity scores are good proxies of micronutrient intakes. However, neither household-level nor individual-level dietary indicators are good proxies of individual nutritional status in this setting.

scholarly journals Market Access, Production Diversity, and Diet Diversity: Evidence From India

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumya Gupta ◽  
Naveen Sunder ◽  
Prabhu L. Pingali
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Market Integration ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Recall Period ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Diet Diversity ◽  
Farm Production ◽  
Field Level ◽  
Production Diversity ◽  
On Farm

Background: Recent literature, largely from Africa, shows mixed effects of own-production on diet diversity. However, the role of own-production, relative to markets, in influencing food consumption becomes more pronounced as market integration increases. Objective: This paper investigates the relative importance of two factors - production diversity and household market integration - for the intake of a nutritious diet by women and households in rural India. Methods: Data analysis is based on primary data from an extensive agriculture-nutrition survey of 3600 Indian households that was collected in 2017. Dietary diversity scores are constructed for women and households is based on 24-hour and 7-day recall periods. Household market integration is measured as monthly household expenditure on key non-staple food groups. We measure production diversity in two ways - field-level and on-farm production diversity - in order to account for the cereal centric rice-wheat cropping system found in our study locations. The analysis is based on Ordinary Least Squares regressions where we control for a variety of village, household, and individual level covariates that affect food consumption, and village fixed effects. Robustness checks are done by way of using a Poisson regression specifications and 7-day recall period. Results: Conventional measures of field-level production diversity, like the number of crops or food groups grown, have no significant association with diet diversity. In contrast, it is on-farm production diversity (the field-level cultivation of pulses and on-farm livestock management, and kitchen gardens in the longer run) that is significantly associated with improved dietary diversity scores, thus suggesting the importance of non-staples in improving both individual and household dietary diversity. Furthermore, market purchases of non-staples like pulses and dairy products are associated with a significantly higher dietary diversity. Other significant determinants of dietary diversity include women’s literacy and awareness of nutrition. These results mostly remain robust to changes in the recall period of the diet diversity measure and the nature of the empirical specification. Conclusions: This study contributes to the scarce empirical evidence related to diets in India. Additionally, our results indicate some key intervention areas - promoting livestock rearing, strengthening households’ market integration (for purchase of non-staples) and increasing women’s awareness about nutrition. These are more impactful than raising production diversity.

scholarly journals Practices and constraints of tomato production among smallholder farmers in Uganda

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 17560-17580
Author(s):  
G Ddamulira ◽  
◽  
O Isaac ◽  
M Kiryowa ◽  
R Akullo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Infections ◽  
Market Access ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Potential Yield ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Tomato Yield ◽  
On Farm

Tomato(Solanum esculentum)is one of the most promising vegetables whose production is being intensified in Uganda. However, tomato yields remain low due to several constraints. The study aimed at identifying production and marketing practices, and constraints affecting tomato productivity in major tomato growing areas of Uganda. A survey was conducted in eight major tomato producing districts using a questionnaire to guide interviews for 240 farmers and 16 key informants. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results revealed that tomato production in Uganda is dominated by males who grow them on 0.68 acres of land on average. Mosttomatofarmers (78.4%) use mono cropping system with varietiesAsilla F1 (35.3%), Tengeru97(21.1%), Rambo (18.1%), NovelaF1(17.7%) and Riogrande (10.3%) dominating. The choice of tomato varieties used by farmers mainly depend on yield potential, pest and disease tolerance and market preference attributes such as long shelf life. In the study area, tomato is mainly fertilized using foliar fertilizers, followed by Diammonium phosphate and cattle manure. The key pests affecting tomato include caterpillars, thrips, worms and whitefly, while bacterial wilt, blight, leaf spots and viral infections are the major diseases. Majority (95.7%) of farmers use chemical sprays(pesticides and fungicides)and 4.3% of farmers used other control methods. The other methods of pest and disease control included rogueing, hand picking, ash, organic extracts, urine and frequent weeding. Average tomato yield was 4,846.3 kg/acre lower than the potential yield of 6000kg/acre. Thirty five percent of farmers market their tomato individually on-farm, 32.8% sell in rural markets, while 32.2% send to the nearest urban markets. The study revealed intensive chemical use accounting for 20% of the production costs, high seed costs (11%) and drought (10%) as the major production constraints impeding tomato production; and price fluctuations, low prices, high transport costs, post-harvest loss on farm, and poor market access as the major marketing constraints. The research findings will aid in the development of new market-oriented, highly productive tomato varieties with improved access to seed and designing initiatives to address production and marketing constraints, which will eventually enhance tomato production.

scholarly journals Local Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems: The Contribution of Orphan Crops and Wild Edible Species

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Borelli ◽  
Danny Hunter ◽  
Stefano Padulosi ◽  
Nadezda Amaya ◽  
Gennifer Meldrum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
System Transformation ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Local Food System ◽  
Orphan Crops ◽  
Edible Species ◽  
Market Opportunities

Calls for a global food system transformation and finding more sustainable ways of producing healthier, safe and nutritious food for all have spurred production approaches such as sustainable intensification and biofortification with limited consideration of the copious amounts of orphan crops, traditional varieties and wild edible species readily available in many countries, mostly in and around smallholder farmers’ fields. This paper explores the potential role of locally available; affordable and climate-resilient orphan crops, traditional varieties and wild edible species to support local food system transformation. Evidence from Brazil, Kenya, Guatemala, India, Mali, Sri Lanka and Turkey is used to showcase a three-pronged approach that aims to: (i) increase evidence of the nutritional value and biocultural importance of these foods, (ii) better link research to policy to ensure these foods are considered in national food and nutrition security strategies and actions, and (iii) improve consumer awareness of the desirability of these alternative foods so that they may more easily be incorporated in diets, food systems and markets. In the seven countries, this approach has brought about positive changes around increasing community dietary diversity and increasing market opportunities for smallholder growers, as well as increased attention to biodiversity conservation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document