Nourishing the farms, nourishing the plates: Association of climate‐smart agricultural practices with household dietary diversity and food security in smallholders

Abstract

Climate‐smart agricultural (CSA) practices are increasingly being promoted as nature‐based solutions to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farm households amid a sharp increase in climate‐change anomalies. However, the extent to which CSA practices contribute to smallholder food security and dietary diversity remains unclear. In this study, we use panel and nationally representative data from Tanzania to examine the association between two climate‐smart agricultural practices, namely, improved maize varieties and maize‐legume intercropping, and food security in smallholder farm households. We use maize yield per acre, adult‐equivalent food expenditure, and household dietary diversity scores to measure household food security, representing three of the four food security pillars: availability, access, and utilization. We also examine the complementarity and potential advantages of combining improved maize seeds with fertilizers. Using standard panel data estimation approaches, we find a positive association between the adoption of improved maize varieties and maize‐legume intercropping and an increase in food production measured through higher crop productivity. However, we do not find a corresponding improvement in household dietary diversity or increased food expenditure, despite the higher crop production. Several factors might explain this outcome, including the challenges faced by farmers in accessing markets to sell surplus produce, the influence of established dietary habits, gender issues, and other local factors that promote the consumption of cereal‐based foods such as maize. Our findings suggest that CSA practices may help improve food production and availability, but more effort is needed to translate increased food production into improved dietary diversity and better food security among smallholder farmers in sub‐Saharan Africa. [EconLit Citations: C23, D12, D13, D24, Q12, Q16, Q18, Q54].

Genetic study of Camelina sativa oilseed crop and selection of a new variety by the bulk method

“…undeniable usefulness of intercropping, this practice is currently underutilized in developed countries, while in developing countries, it remains fundamental for the food security in smallholders (Santalucia and Sibhatu, 2024). There are several reasons why intercropping is less commonly used in developed countries: specialization and monoculture, market demands, land ownership and policies, and a lack of specific breeding programs, particularly regarding cover crops (Rubiales et al, 2023).…”

“…Rotation and intercropping are both agricultural practices aimed at maximizing yield and sustainability while minimizing the negative impacts on the environment offering several benefits: maintain soil fertility and efficient use of resources, pest and disease management and weeds control contributing to Climate‐smart agricultural (CSA) ( Tabe-Ojong et al., 2024 ). However, despite the undeniable usefulness of intercropping, this practice is currently underutilized in developed countries, while in developing countries, it remains fundamental for the food security in smallholders ( Santalucia and Sibhatu, 2024 ). There are several reasons why intercropping is less commonly used in developed countries: specialization and monoculture, market demands, land ownership and policies, and a lack of specific breeding programs, particularly regarding cover crops ( Rubiales et al., 2023 ).…”

Climate-smart agriculture: adoption, impacts, and implications for sustainable development

“…A growing body of studies have also estimated the effects of CSA adoption. They have found that CSA practices enhance food security and dietary diversity by increasing crop yields and rural incomes (Amadu et al 2020;Akter et al 2022;Santalucia 2023;Tabe-Ojong et al 2023;Vatsa et al 2023;Omotoso and Omotayo 2024). For example, Akter et al (2022) found that adoption of CSA practices was positively associated with rice, wheat, and maize yields and household income, contributing to household food security in Bangladesh.…”

“…By estimating data from rice farmers in China, Vatsa et al (2023) reported that intensifying the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices improved rice yield by 94 kg/mu and contributed to food security. Santalucia (2023) and Omotoso and Omotayo (2024) found that adoption of CSA practices (improved maize varieties and maize-legume intercropping) increases household dietary diversity and food security among smallholders in Tanzania and Nigeria, respectively.…”