Does crop diversity contribute to dietary diversity? evidence from integration of vegetables into maize‑based farming systems

Open Access Journal; Published: 21 Oct 2017

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rajendran, S., Afari-Sefa, Victor, Shee, Apurba, Bocher, T., Bekunda, Mateete A., Dominick, I., Lukumay, Philipo J.
Format: Journal Article biblioteca
Language:English
Published: Springer 2017-12
Subjects:maize, crop diversification, farming systems, food security, income generation, value chain, dietary diversity, smallholders,
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89836
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-017-0127-3
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spelling dig-cgspace-10568-898362023-12-08T19:36:04Z Does crop diversity contribute to dietary diversity? evidence from integration of vegetables into maize‑based farming systems Rajendran, S. Afari-Sefa, Victor Shee, Apurba Bocher, T. Bekunda, Mateete A. Dominick, I. Lukumay, Philipo J. maize crop diversification farming systems food security income generation value chain dietary diversity smallholders Open Access Journal; Published: 21 Oct 2017 Background Maize is the most important staple crop for food security and livelihood of smallholder farmers in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, but it alone cannot ensure food security. Cropping patterns must be diversified to ensure an adequate supply and economic access to greater variety of foods for smallholder farm households. This study measured the effect of crop diversification on household dietary diversity in a selected study locale using a survey of 300 randomly stratified farm households in 10 villages located in the Babati, Kongwa and Kiteto districts of Tanzania. Results Based on multiple regression analysis, the study found that simply increasing Simpson’s Index does not influence dietary diversity of farm households due to the presence of interaction effect between Simpson’s Index and crop income. It is much more critical and significant to increase the revenue generated from diversified crops along with other socioeconomic endowment and behavioral characteristics of farm households. This is particularly applicable to poorer smallholder farmers who receive crop income less than US$85 per sales transaction and per season. Particularly, marginal and smallholders might be exposed to the effects of crop diversification and crop income toward increasing in their household dietary diversity score. Conclusion Under average crop income scenarios, households that diversify their crop production tend to increase their dietary diversity from their existing dietary diversity score at a decreasing rate. However, under below average crop income threshold scenarios, farmers tend to increase their dietary diversity score from their existing score at an increasing rate when they diversify into high-value crops that attract relatively high farm gate values and accrue higher net revenues from the market. Monthly food expenditure also tends to positively influence household dietary diversity, indicating that farm households that spend more on market-purchased food have consistent increases in the their dietary diversity scores at the household level. This study concludes that improving economic access to variety of foods at the smallholder household level by diversifying diets through increased crop diversification should be encouraged within maize-based farming systems of the study locale, through integration of micronutrient-rich foods such as vegetables. 2017-12 2017-12-20T14:41:49Z 2017-12-20T14:41:49Z Journal Article Rajendran, S., Afari-Sefa, V., Shee, A., Bocher, T., Bekunda, M., Dominick, I. & Lukumay, P.J. (2017). Does crop diversity contribute to dietary diversity? evidence from integration of vegetables into maize-based farming systems. Agriculture & Food Security, 6(50), 1-13. 2048-7010 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89836 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-017-0127-3 en Open Access 1-13 application/pdf Springer Agriculture and Food Security
institution CGIAR
collection DSpace
country Francia
countrycode FR
component Bibliográfico
access En linea
databasecode dig-cgspace
tag biblioteca
region Europa del Oeste
libraryname Biblioteca del CGIAR
language English
topic maize
crop diversification
farming systems
food security
income generation
value chain
dietary diversity
smallholders
maize
crop diversification
farming systems
food security
income generation
value chain
dietary diversity
smallholders
spellingShingle maize
crop diversification
farming systems
food security
income generation
value chain
dietary diversity
smallholders
maize
crop diversification
farming systems
food security
income generation
value chain
dietary diversity
smallholders
Rajendran, S.
Afari-Sefa, Victor
Shee, Apurba
Bocher, T.
Bekunda, Mateete A.
Dominick, I.
Lukumay, Philipo J.
Does crop diversity contribute to dietary diversity? evidence from integration of vegetables into maize‑based farming systems
description Open Access Journal; Published: 21 Oct 2017
format Journal Article
topic_facet maize
crop diversification
farming systems
food security
income generation
value chain
dietary diversity
smallholders
author Rajendran, S.
Afari-Sefa, Victor
Shee, Apurba
Bocher, T.
Bekunda, Mateete A.
Dominick, I.
Lukumay, Philipo J.
author_facet Rajendran, S.
Afari-Sefa, Victor
Shee, Apurba
Bocher, T.
Bekunda, Mateete A.
Dominick, I.
Lukumay, Philipo J.
author_sort Rajendran, S.
title Does crop diversity contribute to dietary diversity? evidence from integration of vegetables into maize‑based farming systems
title_short Does crop diversity contribute to dietary diversity? evidence from integration of vegetables into maize‑based farming systems
title_full Does crop diversity contribute to dietary diversity? evidence from integration of vegetables into maize‑based farming systems
title_fullStr Does crop diversity contribute to dietary diversity? evidence from integration of vegetables into maize‑based farming systems
title_full_unstemmed Does crop diversity contribute to dietary diversity? evidence from integration of vegetables into maize‑based farming systems
title_sort does crop diversity contribute to dietary diversity? evidence from integration of vegetables into maize‑based farming systems
publisher Springer
publishDate 2017-12
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89836
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-017-0127-3
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