Agricultural diversification and intra-household dietary diversity: Panel data analysis of farm households in Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper investigates the associations between agricultural diversification and dietary diversity among men, women and children of farm households in Bangladesh. Using three waves of nationally representative Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS- 2011–12, 2015 and 2018) data and a panel data model, the study found that agricultural production diversification can emphasize the dietary diversification across the life cycle of farm household members. The balanced panel data reveals that agricultural production diversification has a statistically significant and positive impact on dietary diversity of individual members (men, women and children) of farm households. Moreover, other important factors that impact on agricultural diversification and improve dietary diversity like women’s education and employment, commercialization of farm households, access to non-farm income sources, and access to information facilities also have a strong association in improving dietary status, food and nutritional security as well. Although there is currently limited diversity in the diets of adult men, women and children of rural farm households, the situation can be improved over time with proper and consistent support. The findings suggest policy interventions should target not only agricultural diversification but also improve women’s education and on and off farm employment opportunities and facilitate better access to information for rural households. These recommendations can support improved dietary diversity for all household members under different settings.

Production Choices and Food Security: A Review of Studies Based on a Micro-Diversity Perspective

“…Based on the existing literature, the significant measures of agricultural production diversity include: Crop Counts. The number of livestock species was added to the number of crop species as measured over one year, i.e., for each species of crop planted or livestock raised, one point was assigned accordingly [ 8 , 11 , 13 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 47 , 49 , 52 , 53 ]. Food Group Production Diversity Score (FGPD).…”

“…Specifically, the Women’s Dietary Diversity Score (WDDS), a specialized indicator for evaluating women’s dietary diversity, classifies food groups into cereals, legumes, nuts, dairy, meat, eggs, vitamin A-rich green leafy vegetables, other vitamin A-rich vegetables and fruits, other vegetables, and other fruits. Higher scores on the WDDS indicate a higher quality diet for women [ 13 , 19 , 32 , 42 , 47 ]. The CDDS is an indicator specifically designed to measure children’s dietary quality, only considering the seven major food groups, i.e., grains, stems, and tubers; legumes and nuts; dairy; meat; eggs; vitamin A-rich vegetables and fruits; and other vegetables and fruits.…”

“…The CDDS is an indicator specifically designed to measure children’s dietary quality, only considering the seven major food groups, i.e., grains, stems, and tubers; legumes and nuts; dairy; meat; eggs; vitamin A-rich vegetables and fruits; and other vegetables and fruits. Thus, children’s dietary diversity scores range from 0 to 7 [ 13 , 18 , 19 , 32 , 43 , 44 , 53 ].…”

“…Even though existing studies provide much work in related areas, they have several limitations. On the one hand, most existing studies used cross-sectional data to measure the correlation between agricultural production and food security, and only a few studies used panel data [ 12 , 13 , 21 , 23 , 43 , 47 ]. Therefore, the study results should not be over-interpreted in a causal significance.…”

“…Currently, evidence on the effectiveness of this strategy needs to be more comprehensive. Extant studies have shown that agricultural production diversity is considered the foremost determinant of dietary quality [ 10 ], with a positive effect on dietary diversity [ 8 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. However, some scholars have raised questions about the effectiveness of enhancing dietary diversity through agricultural production diversity [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], contending that it does not significantly influence dietary diversity [ 33 ].…”