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

Chlorogenic acid content of green coffee beans

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Serum zinc levels of school children on a corn-soy blend feeding trial in primary schools in Suba district, Kenya

Micronutrient deficiencies are among the top ten leading causes of death in Sub Saharan Africa. In Suba district of Kenya, the problem is compounded by high poverty levels and a high prevalence of HIV and AIDS. This study determined the effect of corn soy fortified complementary food on serum zinc levels among primary school pupils in Suba district. Methodology and results: An experimental study was conducted with children in two schools (Mbita and Sindo) being fed with corn soy blend for three months. Children in a third school (Ong ayo primary) were the control and were not fed with the corn-soy blend. Blood samples at baseline were drawn from 156 school children aged 6 to 9 years from the 3 schools (Mbita 55, Sindo 52 and Ong ayo 49) through systematic sampling while blood samples at follow up were drawn from 138 children (Mbita 49, Sindo 46 and Ong ayo 43). Assessments of serum zinc were done before and after three months of feeding. SPSS and Nutri-survey software packages were used to analyze data into descriptive and inferential statistics. At baseline, nearly all (95.7%) of the pupils were found to be deficient, with low serum zinc (<10.7?m/l). There was a significant reduction (p=0.0421) in the number of zinc deficient cases to 70.2% after feeding for 3 months on corn soy blend with the mean serum zinc having improved from 8.4 to 10.2 ?m/l (p=0.002). Although not significantly different, girls had higher serum zinc levels than boys before feeding trials while the opposite was observed after the feeding trials. Conclusion and potential application of findings: The fortified complementary food significantly improved serum zinc levels and reduced the level of absenteeism from school. Parents are therefore encouraged to introduce and ensure families consume more of corn-soy blended foods at home. It would also be valuable for schools with feeding programmes to introduce corn-soy blends or products as part of school meals. The findings can also be used by policy makers to promote production and consumption of soya beans. Authors recommend a similar study be conducted in a different area among the same age group and results compared to validate the findings of this study

The impact of a nutrition and health programme on the socio-economic status and food access of households in Suba District, Kenya

Objective: Poor nutrition and ill health affect the productivity, livelihoods and food access of a household. This study investigated the impact of a nutrition and health programme on the socioeconomic status and food access of households in Suba district, Kenya. Methodology and results: Action research design was utilized that involved comparison of the baseline and impact evaluation results after a three-year intervention period. A sample size of 291 randomly selected households from a community whose main economic activity is fishing was used. Data collection instruments included a structured questionnaire, focus group discussion guide and an observation checklist. Data was analyzed using SPSS computer package version 16. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Over a three-year period, household size increased from 4.8 to 5.5. Education levels improved insignificantly (P>0.05) while income levels improved with monthly maternal income improving from a minimum of Ksh. 100 to 300 (1.5 to 4.0 US dollars). About 89.6 and 3.4% of households obtained food from own produce and purchase combined with assistance, respectively. About 51.2, 3 and 64% reported to consider their households food secure when there was clear moonlight as the fishermen in their households were assured of a good fish catch, at the end of the month when households had some cash income, and if they harvested between 2 to 5 bags of maize (each 90kg), per season, respectively. More than a third (32.6%) of the respondents were involved in small business while 50.9 and 16.5% were involved in actual fishing and farming, respectively. Only 6.2% of the respondents had access to credit facilities. After 3 years, food consumption patterns did not change significantly from the baseline. Sanitation and morbidity patterns did not improve significantly at the households albeit with nutrition and health education, with 27.5 and 30.9% not having latrines and refuse disposal bins/pits, respectively. The households bathed, washed and drew drinking water from the same point in Lake Victoria. Conclusion and potential application of findings: Nutrition and health programmes have potential to improve the socioeconomic status and household food access depending on content coverage of the programmes

Soik Microbe Mediated Zinc Uptake In Soy Bean: A Review

The availability of the nutrients to plants depends on the inherent and derived mechanisms to access these nutrients. More attention has been given to macronutrients which are more accessible, easily replenished and utilized by plants for growth. Macronutrients are crucial and improve yield but compromise quality of the crop, leading to a phenomenon termed as &apos;the empty harvest&apos;. The soil nutrient cycle processes are mediated by both biotic and abiotic factors with nutrients available in gaseous and in soil solution. Roots play a major role in the uptake of nutrients from the soils. The rhizosphere and rhizoplane of roots is rich with soil biota, amongst them microorganisms, which play a major role in nutrient availability, accessibility and translocation. Nutrient uptake can be enhanced by microorganisms through direct and indirect processes. There is sufficient evidence for nitrogen, phosphorus and micronutrient uptake and availability mediated by microorganisms. The uptake of micronutrients such as zinc depends on that of phosphorus. A large proportion of the world population has shortcomings from a nutrition perspective of being low in zinc and other essential nutrients. There is widespread zinc deficiency in diets causing zinc deficiency diseases. This is combated through pharmaceutical supplements, industrial fortification and most recently biofortification through agriculture. Biofortification has taken highest priority in guaranteeing quality of crops. However, soils exploitation for micronutrients can be enhanced by biological interventions to guarantee adequate uptake by plants and improve crop quality. Microbiological interventions that increase root growth, the availability and transfer of Zn from soil to plants are, therefore, crucial. This article reviews promising microbiological interventions for zinc uptake and gives an overview of microbiological interventions for nitrogen and for phosphorus that are directly linked with zinc uptake. Soya bean is taken as a model plant in this review to elucidate the mechanism of Zn mobilization

Soil microbe mediated zinc uptake in soy bean: A review

The availability of the nutrients to plants depends on the inherent and derived mechanisms to access these nutrients. More attention has been given to macronutrients which are more accessible, easily replenished and utilized by plants for growth. Macronutrients are crucial and improve yield but compromise quality of the crop, leading to a phenomenon termed as ‘the empty harvest’. The soil nutrient cycle processes are mediated by both biotic and abiotic factors with nutrients available in gaseous and in soil solution. Roots play a major role in the uptake of nutrients from the soils. The rhizosphere and rhizoplane of roots is rich with soil biota, amongst them microorganisms, which play a major role in nutrient availability,accessibility and translocation. Nutrient uptake can be enhanced by microorganisms through direct and indirect processes. There is sufficient evidence for nitrogen, phosphorus and micronutrient uptake and availability mediated by microorganisms. The uptake of micronutrients such as zinc depends on that of phosphorus. A large proportion of the world population has shortcomings from a nutrition perspective ofbeing low in zinc and other essential nutrients. There is widespread zinc deficiency in diets causing zinc deficiency diseases. This is combated through pharmaceutical supplements, industrial fortification and most recently biofortification through agriculture. Biofortification has taken highest priority in guaranteeing quality of crops. However, soils exploitation for micronutrients can be enhanced by biological interventions to guarantee adequate uptake by plants and improve crop quality. Microbiological interventions that increase root growth, the availability and transfer of Zn from soil to plants are, therefore, crucial. This article reviews promising microbiological interventions for zinc uptake and gives an overview of microbiological interventions for nitrogen and for phosphorus that are directly linked with zinc uptake. Soya bean is taken as a model plant in this review to elucidate the mechanism of Zn mobilization