How are higher rice yields associated with dietary outcomes of smallholder farm households of Madagascar?

It is widely expected that agriculture would contribute to farmers’ food security and nutrition in developing countries. However, studies that directly explore the link between agricultural productivity and micronutrients intake by farmers are scarce. In this paper, we contribute to filling this gap by exploring two key channels by which agricultural production can influence dietary outcomes: a food consumption pathway and a cash revenue pathway. To achieve this, we used three-years panel data of rice farmers collected in the Vakinankaratra region of Madagascar. The results suggest that rice yield is positively and significantly associated with farmers’ calorie and micronutrients intake, though the observed elasticities are low. Secondly, raising rice yield has a positive significant impact not only on rice consumption but also on the share of the output sold and the cash revenue from rice sales. Lastly, the results suggest that households with higher cash revenue from rice sales purchase more nutritious foods. Therefore, we conclude that the market represents the channel through which increased rice yield translates into improved micronutrient intake. The findings of this study imply that in order to improve farm households’ nutrition through agricultural production, interventions that target yield enhancement should be accompanied by market access measures.