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Production of Indigenous Food Crops: Implications for Children’s Nutritional Status of Farm Households in Northern Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Alhassan Andani

    (University for Development Studies)

  • John Baptist D. Jatoe

    (University of Ghana)

  • Ramatu M. Al-Hassan

    (University of Ghana)

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of indigenous food crops on the nutrition security outcomes of children in farm households. Using a standard treatment effect model, data on children under 5 years of age from 250 farm households in selected rural districts of northern Ghana were analysed. A multistage sampling procedure was used. Descriptive statistics show high rates of child wasting (16.7%), stunting (29.8%) and underweight (25.2%), but suggest better nutritional status for children in indigenous food crops producer households than those in non-producer households. Children in producer households have higher height-for-age; weight-for-height and weight-for-age z-scores than children in non-producer households. The findings suggest that, children in non-producer households are more at risk of being stunted, wasted and underweight than those in producer households. Exploring the empirical link between the production of indigenous food crops and the nutrition status of children in northern Ghana extends the literature on nutrition and crop production.

Suggested Citation

  • Alhassan Andani & John Baptist D. Jatoe & Ramatu M. Al-Hassan, 2022. "Production of Indigenous Food Crops: Implications for Children’s Nutritional Status of Farm Households in Northern Ghana," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(6), pages 2651-2665, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:eurjdr:v:34:y:2022:i:6:d:10.1057_s41287-021-00481-2
    DOI: 10.1057/s41287-021-00481-2
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Northern Ghana; Nutrition security outcomes; Child anthropometric measures; Indigenous food crops; Treatment effect model; Farm households;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy
    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities

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