Agricultural biodiversity encompasses the variety and variability of plants and animals that are necessary for food production and accessibility. Loss of agricultural biodiversity is taking place at a very high rate in Kenya. Many indigenous species that are not only nutritious, but also adapted to harsh conditions are now associated with poverty or backwardness. This profound change has great effect on preschool children in Kenya. Their diets are predominantly based on starchy staples, little or no animal products and few fruits and vegetables thus inadequate in quality and quantity resulting to malnutrition. The main objective of this cross-sectional survey was to determine the influence of agricultural biodiversity on dietary diversity of preschool children in Matungu division, western Kenya. A sample of 144 households with preschool children was drawn from Matungu division using multistage, proportional and systematic random sampling techniques. Structured questionnaires and observation checklists were used for data collection. Agricultural biodiversity was measured by variety of food crops grown, types of animals domesticated for food and food items obtained from natural sources. Dietary diversity was measured by the number of food items across eight food groups with a reference period of 7 days. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Frequencies, means and percentages were used to organize, describe and summarize data whereas Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was used to test for statistical associations between agricultural biodiversity and dietary diversity. Research findings showed that households grew an average of three types of food crops kept two varieties of animals for food and got two food items from natural sources. Preschool children had consumed on average 13 varieties of foods in the one-week preceding the study. The findings also revealed a positive and strong relationship between agricultural biodiversity and dietary diversity (r= 0.704) indicating that 50% of the changes in dietary intake could be attributed to changes in agricultural biodiversity. Therefore, increased agricultural biodiversity enhances dietary diversity of preschool children leading to improvement in their nutrition and health status. It was therefore recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture and related organizations reinforce extension services (training/education on agricultural biodiversity and sustainable utilization of neglected indigenous food sources) to rural populations especially women.

In sub-Saharan African countries, diets of preschool children are predominantly based on starchy foods with little or no animal products and few fresh fruits and vegetables. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Gitega health zone (Burundi) and Butembo health zone (Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC) with the objective of establishing dietary diversity and nutritional status of preschool children from rural-banana dependent households. The two health zones were selected based on high dependency on bananas and plantains and the high levels of food insecurity. Through multi-stage random sampling commune/collectivity, colline/localite and villages were selected from each of the health zones; household listing was done in each of the sub-sites and systematic random sampling used to select 281 households with preschool children (Butembo-138 and Gitega-143). Dietary diversity was assessed using the dietary diversity score (DDS) with a reference period of 24 hr. Anthropometric measurements were taken and Epi Info 2002 used to compute nutrition indices and results classified according to World Health Organization 2006 cutoff points. Findings showed that 48% and 42% of the children from Butembo (DRC) and Gitega (Burundi) respectively had consumed food items from less than 3 food groups. Only 7% and 29% of children from Butembo (DRC) and Gitega (Burundi), respectively had consumed highly diversified diets (>6 food groups). In both countries the most popular food group was the roots, tubers and bananas group (>75% consumption rate). The other popular food groups were; vegetables group, cereals and grains group in Gitega (Burundi) and vegetables group and legumes group in Butembo (DRC). In both countries less than 15% of the preschool children consumed food from meat, eggs or milk groups. Stunting was the most prevalent form of malnutrition with 63.57% and 78.86% of the preschool children from Gitega and Butembo, respectively being stunted (z-scores of ≤-2), while 20% and 3.25% of children from Gitega and Burundi, respectively were wasted. The differences in levels of underweight and stunting among children from Gitega and Butembo were not statistically significant but the differences in wasting were significantly different at a P<0.05. With the high levels of malnutrition and low dietary diversity observed among rural-Musa-dependent households in Gitega and Butembo, it is important that stakeholders work collaboratively in coming up with sustainable integrated approaches that link agriculture, nutrition and health in order to enhance the livelihoods of these communities.

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Bananas and plantains serve as important food crops in much of Africa. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), production of bananas is concentrated in the eastern region and ranges between 75,000 and 80,000 t/year. Bananas rank second in importance after cassava in eastern DR Congo and are good sources of carbohydrates, though recent research has confirmed that they also have substantial levels of provitamin A carotenoids. This study was undertaken to establish the contribution of bananas and plantains to the diet and nutrition of Musa-dependent households within eastern DR Congo. The study sites included Beni Territory (North Kivu) and Bukavu Territory (South Kivu). The localities, villages and specific households were established through multistage sampling. Sample size was calculated using Fisher's formula, and mothers/caregivers from 371 households with preschool children were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Regression analysis with an r2 threshold of 0.045 was carried out to establish the relationship between dietary diversity and banana consumption. Findings showed that the food group consisting of roots, tubers and bananas was the most popular in both Beni and Bukavu territories, with more than 90% of the households having consumed a food item from this group. Although cassava root is the most popular starchy staple, bananas, especially East African Highland bananas (EAHB), had been consumed by more than 60% of the households in the 24 h preceding the survey. In addition, >50% of households indicated that they had consumed these bananas twice to four times a week and that they were mostly simply boiled. Bananas have a significant role in the diets of preschool children and potentially meet their energy needs and needs for nutrients such as potassium and vitamin A. It is therefore important that interventions or research activities geared towards alleviation of hunger and malnutrition should use bananas and plantains as a vehicle for addressing these problems, especially among Musa-dependent populations.