Household Farm Production Diversity and Micronutrient Intake: Where Are the Linkages? Panel Data Evidence from Uganda

Abstract

Hunger and malnutrition are key global challenges whose understanding is instrumental to their elimination, thus realization of important sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, understanding linkages between farm production diversity (FPD) and household micronutrient intake is important in mapping micronutrient deficiencies and hidden hunger. Such understanding would inform appropriate interventions against malnutrition. Unfortunately, empirical literature is scarce to sufficiently inform such understanding. Using nationally representative panel survey data covering about 3300 households, we study linkages between FPD and nutrition, and associated impact pathways. We analyze data using panel regression models. Results show that at least half of sample was deficient in daily energy, iron, zinc, and vitamin A intake vis-à-vis FAO recommendations. Deficiencies were most severe (85%) with vitamin A. Positive and significant associations (about 1% for each added crop/livestock species) exist between FPD and daily household energy, iron, zinc, and vitamin A intake. FPD impacts energy and micronutrient intake via two main consumption pathways; markets (about 0.01% for each shilling), and own farm production (about 0.1% for each shilling). Therefore, own farm production yields better outcomes. Gender effects also exist. Male-headed households exhibited better nutrition outcomes (energy—11%, iron—8%, and zinc—12%) mostly via markets. Effects on Vitamin A were also positive although insignificant.

Farm production diversity, household dietary diversity, and nutrition: Evidence from Uganda’s national panel survey

“…We had also separately worked with earlier waves on studying similar nutrition outcomes. Essentially, we built on analyses of Sekabira & Nalunga [12] and Sekabira et al [28] who used 2009/10, 2010/2011, and 2011/2012 waves. Data are sourced from across Uganda covering the different farming systems under which different crops and livestock species are produced.…”

“…Therefore, it may not be surprising that associated effects of education towards HDDS were negative-contrary to PLOS ONE our expectations. However, education in substantially more years (higher education of dominantly rural samples), has been found to positively associate with nutrition outcomes [28,51].…”

“…However, in the context of the least-developed countries like Uganda [21,22], where market infrastructure is poor and rural smallholder households are trapped in poverty and remoteness, such evidence may be inapplicable. Certain evidence has documented FPD to be more important for diversity in household diets and nutrition gains [8,11,12,15,[17][18][19][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Hence, empirical evidence linking FPD, and nutrition outcomes is often mixed, disjointed, and incomprehensive [16,30,31].…”

“…Zinc is essential for proper human growth, reproduction, and building strong immunity against diseases, and a key anti-inflammatory mineral that is central in nearly 300 enzymes [37,42]. The prevalence of zinc deficiency in Uganda is around 66% [28], yet zinc, iron, vitamin A, and energy have been found essential in school children's learning [43,44]. Lastly, Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is one of the most prevalent deficiencies globally, mostly affecting children (30% of children below 5 years) and accounting for nearly 2% of all children's deaths annually [37,45].…”

“…VAD causes avoidable blindness in children, and VA ingestion by children via breast milk is dependent on the mother's VA status, hence VAD usually manifests early in children's lives especially in communities consuming diets that are short in vitamin A [46]. In Uganda, 28% of infant children are exposed to VAD [45], and in some regions, VAD has been found as high as 85% [28].…”