Does crop diversity contribute to dietary diversity? Evidence from integration of vegetables into maize-based farming systems

Background: Maize is the most important staple crop for food security and livelihood of smallholder farmers in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, but it alone cannot ensure food security. Cropping patterns must be diversified to ensure an adequate supply and economic access to greater variety of foods for smallholder farm households. This study measured the effect of crop diversification on household dietary diversity in a selected study locale using a survey of 300 randomly stratified farm households in 10 villages located in the Babati, Kongwa and Kiteto districts of Tanzania. Results: Based on multiple regression analysis, the study found that simply increasing Simpson’s Index does not influence dietary diversity of farm households due to the presence of interaction effect between Simpson’s Index and crop income. It is much more critical and significant to increase the revenue generated from diversified crops along with other socioeconomic endowment and behavioral characteristics of farm households. This is particularly applicable to poorer smallholder farmers who receive crop income less than US$85 per sales transaction and per season. Particularly, marginal and smallholders might be exposed to the effects of crop diversification and crop income toward increasing in their household dietary diversity score. Conclusion: Under average crop income scenarios, households that diversify their crop production tend to increase their dietary diversity from their existing dietary diversity score at a decreasing rate. However, under below average crop income threshold scenarios, farmers tend to increase their dietary diversity score from their existing score at an increasing rate when they diversify into high-value crops that attract relatively high farm gate values and accrue higher net revenues from the market. Monthly food expenditure also tends to positively influence household dietary diversity, indicating that farm households that spend more on market-purchased food have consistent increases in their dietary diversity scores at the household level. This study concludes that improving economic access to variety of foods at the smallholder household level by diversifying diets through increased crop diversification should be encouraged within maize-based farming systems of the study locale, through integration of micronutrient-rich foods such as vegetables

Amending traditional crop management practices to accord with pronounced seasonal rainfall variability in south-central Uganda

No Abstract Available E. Afr. Agric. For. J Vol.68(1) 2002: 31-3

Preserving the Future of Vegetable Improvement

Diverse and readily accessible genetic resources are vital for any crop improvement program oriented toward high and stable yields and specific consumer preferences to finally contribute to food security and a diverse diet for the ever increasing global population. Molecular tools to identify and use genes responsible for specific traits in gene bank accessions of wild and cultivated species have great potential to enhance germplasm utilization and to shorten breeding cycles. Complementary approaches of in situ and ex situ conservation are used to preserve germplasm for improvement programs. AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center conserves approximately 56,000 accessions and is therefore the world’s most important gene bank for vegetable crops. More than 35,000 samples of regular and improved vegetable germplasm have been distributed over the last 10 years to a range of users in the public and private sectors. Another 10,000 samples have been used by the Center’s scientists for their research. After extensive screening and breeding efforts, five anthracnose-resistant pepper lines have been released by the Center. Similarly, Solanum pimpinellifolium, a wild tomato species is being used to develop resistant varieties against bacterial wilt. Resistance against the damage from aphids was detected in Capsicum annuum accessions from Costa Rica. Moderate to highly resistant lines to bruchid, a destructive storage insect pest of mungbean resulted from extensive screening trials at the Asian Regional Center. The AVRDC Vegetable Genetic Resources Information System (AVGRIS) provides direct access to information pertaining to the accessions in the gene bank to all potential users through the internet. To secure the future of variety improvement programs of staple crops including fruits and vegetables, gene bank capacities for medium to long-term conservation, germplasm characterization and evaluation, and information exchange need to be given priority attention