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Seasonality and nutrition-sensitive farming in rural Northern Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Ilse Jager

    (Wageningen University)

  • Gerrie W. J. Ven

    (Wageningen University)

  • Ken E. Giller

    (Wageningen University)

  • Inge D. Brouwer

    (Wageningen University)

Abstract

In rural sub-Saharan Africa, where malnutrition in all its forms is rife, the greatest gap between the availability of foods and the foods needed for a nutritious diet are faced during the ‘hunger season’. We investigated what rural households in Northern Ghana would need to grow to ensure year-round availability of a nutrient adequate diet or the income required to fulfil their dietary needs. We applied linear programming to model different scenarios and interventions. Our results provide three major insights. First, considering seasonality is crucial in nutrition-sensitive farming. Ensuring a nutritious diet year-round requires enhanced availability of vegetables and fruits throughout the year. Second, although staple crops do not provide the full range of essential nutrients, increasing their yields allows for a reduction of field size, freeing up space for the production of other foods belonging to a nutritious diet, such as vegetables. Third, small farms are unable to produce sufficient food to cover their needs. They depend on income both from agriculture and other sources, and the availability of types of foods on markets to meet their dietary needs. Our study shows the value of modelling the range of dietary effects from agricultural interventions in a specific context, using a local feasible nutritious diet as a starting point and taking seasonality into account.

Suggested Citation

  • Ilse Jager & Gerrie W. J. Ven & Ken E. Giller & Inge D. Brouwer, 2023. "Seasonality and nutrition-sensitive farming in rural Northern Ghana," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(2), pages 381-394, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:15:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s12571-022-01325-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-022-01325-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. William A Masters & Yan Bai & Anna Herforth & Daniel B Sarpong & Fulgence Mishili & Joyce Kinabo & Jennifer C Coates, 2018. "Measuring the Affordability of Nutritious Diets in Africa: Price Indexes for Diet Diversity and the Cost of Nutrient Adequacy," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 100(5), pages 1285-1301.
    2. Richard ANKER, 2006. "Living wages around the world: A new methodology and internationally comparable estimates," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 145(4), pages 309-338, December.
    3. Ecker, Olivier, 2018. "Agricultural transformation and food and nutrition security in Ghana: Does farm production diversity (still) matter for household dietary diversity?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 271-282.
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    5. Ilse de Jager & Abdul-Razak Abizari & Jacob C. Douma & Ken E. Giller & Inge D. Brouwer, 2017. "Grain legume cultivation and children’s dietary diversity in smallholder farming households in rural Ghana and Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(5), pages 1053-1071, October.
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