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Association between irrigated farming and improved nutrition in farm households in Malawi

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  • Todd Benson

Abstract

More intensive use of Malawi's water and agricultural land resources through increased irrigation is expected to enable Malawians gain greater access to more food and a more diverse range of foods. The nutritional status of the nutritionally vulnerable in Malawian communities should improve in consequence. However, there is little evidence from Malawi or elsewhere to confirm whether irrigation improves nutritional status at household level. Using data from the Third Malawi Integrated Household Survey of 2010/11 , this article presents a basic assessment of whether increased use of irrigated farming by smallholders in Malawi might result in better nutritional outcomes for children in Malawian farm households and more diverse diets in these households. The association between the use of irrigation by farm households and the growth performance of their children aged six months to five years was positive but weak and not significant (P>0.05). The positive association between irrigated farming and the diversity in the foods consumed by farm households was somewhat stronger and significant (P>0.05). In particular, irrigation is shown to be an important component in reducing seasonality in household dietary diversity.

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  • Todd Benson, 2015. "Association between irrigated farming and improved nutrition in farm households in Malawi," Agrekon, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(3), pages 62-86, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ragrxx:v:54:y:2015:i:3:p:62-86
    DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2015.1084940
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    1. Domenech, Laia & Ringler, Claudia, 2013. "The impact of irrigation on nutrition, health, and gender: A review paper with insights for Africa south of the Sahara," IFPRI discussion papers 1259, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Kabunga, Nassul S., 2014. "Improved dairy cows in Uganda: Pathways to poverty alleviation and improved child nutrition:," IFPRI discussion papers 1328, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Verduzco-Gallo, Íñigo & Ecker, Olivier & Pauw, Karl, 2014. "Changes in food and nutrition security in Malawi: Analysis of recent survey evidence:," MaSSP working papers 6, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Burney, Jennifer A. & Naylor, Rosamond L., 2012. "Smallholder Irrigation as a Poverty Alleviation Tool in Sub-Saharan Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 110-123.
    5. Verduzco-Gallo, à ñigo & Ecker, Olivier & Pauw, Karl, 2014. "Changes in food and nutrition security in Malawi: Analysis of recent survey evidence," MaSSP working papers 6, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    1. Simone Passarelli & Dawit Mekonnen & Elizabeth Bryan & Claudia Ringler, 2018. "Evaluating the pathways from small-scale irrigation to dietary diversity: evidence from Ethiopia and Tanzania," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(4), pages 981-997, August.
    2. Thinah Moyo, 2024. "Smallholder Irrigation and Rural Livelihoods in Limpopo Province of South Africa: What is the Contribution to Household Food Security and Income?," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(2), pages 1241-1259, February.

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