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Linking farm diversification to household diet diversification: Evidence from a sample of Kenyan ultra-poor farmers

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  • Demeke, Mulat
  • Meerman, Janice
  • Scognamillo, Antonio
  • Romeo, Alessandro
  • Asfaw, Solomon

Abstract

This paper provides new empirical evidence on the nexus between farm production diversification and household diet diversity in East Africa. Starting with a conceptual framework for the pathways from agriculture to nutrition, we use data collected from a sample of ultra-poor, labor constrained families living in five rural districts of Kenya. We find production diversification to be positively and significantly associated with household diet diversification, with poultry ownership most strongly correlated. These findings suggest that supporting investments in diversified livelihood systems in general and in small livestock assets such as poultry in particular are viable intervention classes to improve household food security and nutrition for very poor, marginalized smallholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Demeke, Mulat & Meerman, Janice & Scognamillo, Antonio & Romeo, Alessandro & Asfaw, Solomon, 2017. "Linking farm diversification to household diet diversification: Evidence from a sample of Kenyan ultra-poor farmers," ESA Working Papers 288964, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:faoaes:288964
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.288964
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Food Security and Poverty; Consumer/Household Economics; Farm Management; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F63 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Economic Development
    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • C50 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - General

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