The impacts of agricultural commercialization on nutrition are highly contested. Agriculture–nutrition linkages are complex and context-dependent and may result in trade-offs between different dietary outcomes. This study compared dietary patterns between children in oil palm and non-oil palm–adopting Indigenous households in two oil palm contexts in Indonesia: “plasma” smallholder oil palm in West Kalimantan and oil palm plantation labor in Papua. Using 24-h dietary recall data from children aged between 12 and 59 mo in West Kalimantan (696 children; 963 recalls across two seasons) and Papua (345 children), we compared quantities of foods consumed at the food group level between children in oil palm and non-oil palm Indigenous households. We also compared the probabilities of consuming ultraprocessed foods. Children living in oil palm–adopting households in West Kalimantan consumed lower quantities of cereals and dark green leafy vegetables (DGLVs), more dairy and eggs, and were more likely to have consumed processed meat and sugar-sweetened beverages. In Papua, children living in households engaged in oil palm plantation labor consumed lower quantities of tubers and fish, but more cereals, DGLVs, and legumes. They were also more likely to have consumed ultraprocessed refined grains and bakery products. Associations between agricultural commercialization and children’s diets are context-dependent and may reinforce local dietary transitions. These may include increased consumption of some healthy foods in some contexts, but also be associated with diets linked to negative health outcomes, including reduced consumption of some nutrient-rich foods and increased consumption of ultraprocessed foods.
Tag: Commercialization
Global patterns and trends in the use and management of commercial NTFPs: implications for livelihoods and conservation
Understanding of the role and potential of nontimber forest products (NTFPs) for livelihood improvement and conservation has been hindered by a lack of a clear theoretical framework and a functional typology of cases. To help fill this gap, we did a comparative analysis of 61 cases of commercial NTFP production in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Cases were documented using a standardized set of descriptors organized into categories describing various aspects of the production-to-consumption system. Exploratory analysis yielded useful case groupings by (a) household economic strategy and (b) NTFP production strategy. These groups and their key characteristics are used as a basis for discussing the development and conservation implications of NTFPs.
Proceedings of the Workshop Cultivating (in) Tropical Forests?: the Evolution and Sustainability of Systems of Management between Extractivism and Plantations, 28 June – 1 July 2000, Kraemmervika, Lofoten, Norway
Domestication and conservation of indigenous Miombo fruit trees for improving rural livelihoods in southern Africa
The last two decades have witnessed increased interest in the conservation, domestication and commercialization of indigenous fruit trees (IFTs) in the tropics. This paper examines the experiences from research and development (R&D) initiatives involving IFTs of the Miombo eco-region. Significant progress has been made in domestication strategies, including species priority setting, provenance trials, participatory clonal selection and development of new cultivars, nursery propagation techniques and field management. New research has created opportunities for the development of IFTs as new crops and their management on-farm. Participatory domestication initiatives described in this paper provide a beneficial strategy aimed at reducing over-dependence and exploitation of wild populations, while at the same time helping farmers and researchers in the development of new tree crops to capture economic opportunities.
Plant species richness and diversity in urban and peri-urban gardens of Niamey, Niger
Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) significantly contributes to food and nutritional security of urban dwellers in many African countries. Economic and demographic pressures often lead to transformation of subsistence-oriented traditional homegardens into commercial production units. Such transformation is claimed to result in decreasing plant diversity, particularly of local species. A study was therefore undertaken in 51 gardens of Niamey, Niger, to assess the factors determining plant diversity and the suitability of UPA for in situ conservation of plant genetic resources. In each garden, the number and abundance of all human-used plant species were determined, and species density, Shannon index and Shannon evenness were calculated. In the 51 surveyed gardens, a total of 116 plant species were cultivated, most of them for the production of fruits or vegetables. Annual vegetables dominated, particularly exotic species grown for sale. In the cold season, an average of 14 species were cultivated per garden, the Shannon index was 0.96 and evenness was 0.39. Commercial gardens had a species richness similar to that of subsistence gardens, but a lower evenness (P < 0.005), caused by the dominance of a few vegetable species. Gardens of immigrants had a lower Shannon index than those of members of the local Djerma ethnic groupStepwise multiple regression analysis showed significant influence of various variables on plant species richness and diversity parameters: garden size (richness and Shannon index), ethnicity of the gardener (richness and evenness), gender of the gardener and cash-oriented production (evenness), household size (richness) and garden possession status (Shannon index). Cluster analysis revealed the existence of five garden types. The highest species richness and diversity, particularly of perennial and local species, was found in large, peri-urban, commercial gardens managed by relatively wealthy, elderly gardeners with large families and a regular non-agricultural income.
The role of institutional arrangements and policy on the conservation, utilization and commercialization of indigenous fruits in Southern Africa
Food insecurity, health, especially HIV/AIDS, high levels of unemployment and poverty are some of the key development challenges facing the southern Africa region. To overcome these challenges, most governments are implementing programmes that promote sustainable economic growth to reduce poverty and unemployment. As part of these programmes, rural people are coping with food insecurity and sustaining their livelihoods by using forest products, including wild foods and indigenous fruit trees. These foods supplement their diets and are traded to provide cash income (FAO, 1989). The forests and natural woodlands support millions of livelihoods for people living within and neighbouring them. They provide direct and indirect benefits that include environmental services of soil, water and biodiversity conservation, animal habitats, beauty, tourism, a variety of wood and non-wood products, medicines, herbs and fruits. They are home to several indigenous fruit trees (IFTs) that offer various products and services to rural and urban communities in Africa (FAO, 1989). These IFT products and services have sustained rural and urban livelihoods for thousands of years. The biggest challenge to forest sectors in southern Africa is to promote self-sufficiency in forest products through sustained forest management and biodiversity conservation.
Domestication, utilization and marketing of indigenous fruit trees in West and Central Africa
This chapter discusses the progress in participatory tree domestication in West and Central Africa. The steps in participatory tree domestication are discussed: selection of priority species based on farmers’ preferences and market; orientation; collection of germplasm from elite trees chosen by farmers or other users; establishment of passport data for trees from which germplasm was collected (for future use in tracing the owners of trees in respect of property right); development of appropriate vegetative propagation techniques for the different species under domestication; integration of improved propagules in different cropping systems; and marketing studies of products from domesticated species
Accelerated domestication and commercialization of indigenous fruit and nut trees to enhance better livelihoods in the tropics: lessons and way forward
The objectives of this chapter are: (i) to provide a global synthesis of knowledge on indigenous fruit tree domestication, utilization and marketing experiences from tropical Africa, Latin America and Asia; (ii) to summarize and highlight the main opportunities, achievements and challenges that remain, linking basic research and development initiatives to applications in the private sector; and (iii) to propose future research areas. This chapter highlights key findings and puts in perspective the implications from the preceding chapters in the context of lessons learned from decades of domestication and commercialization of indigenous fruit trees in the tropics
Does Agricultural Commercialisation Increase Asset and Livestock Accumulation on Smallholder Farms in Ethiopia?
The transition of farmers from subsistence to market-oriented agriculture is meant to reduce hunger, increase wellbeing and accelerate rural economic progress. While an impressive extant literature has analysed agricultural commercialisation effects on welfare from an income, expenditure and consumption perspective, authors place less attention on the implications on asset holdings, which is a more robust long-term measure of welfare. Using chickpea production in Ethiopia as a case, we assess the effects of chickpea commercialisation on household asset ownership and livestock holdings of smallholder farmers. We employ a household fixed-effects estimator to control for time-invariant unobserved heterogeneity and account for possible endogeneity using an instrumental variable approach. For comparison purposes, we also evaluate the income effects of chickpea and examine impact heterogeneity using quantile regressions. Our results indicate a positive impact of agricultural commercialisation on assets, livestock ownership and income. We found commercialisation to benefit all farmers in terms of impact heterogeneity, though with higher gains for asset-rich households. Despite this rising asset inequality, we conclude that increased agricultural commercialisation can contribute to economic development of households and reduce rural poverty.
Prevalence, severity and causative agents of dieback in calotropis procera in semi-arid regions of Kenya
Calotropis procera has a great potential for domestication and commercialization in Kenya for fibre production. However, the shrub experiences dieback condition caused by unidentified fungi. This makes it difficult to prevent dieback during cultivation, a situation that may lead to low productivity and financial losses. This study determined dieback prevalence, severity and causative agents among naturally growing Calotropis procera in the semi-arid regions of Kenya. A repeated measure research design was used. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting Tharaka and Makueni as study sites. Simple and systematic random sampling techniques were used in developing main and sub plots, respectively. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 16 cuttings from each block for laboratory analysis. In the laboratory, specimens were obtained from samples, sterilized, rinsed, blotted and incubated at 23°C followed by observation of spores under a Microscope. Mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) and 2*4*6 factorial ANOVA using SPSS version 25 was used in analysis. There were significant differences in dieback prevalence and severity at different time points with the highest prevalence (78.56%) and severity index (3.54) reported in (September-November) 2019. Fusarium was the dominant dieback causative fungi with dominance ranging from 32.29% to 43.38%. In conclusion, the study established that naturally growing Calotropis procera stands in semi-arid regions of Kenya experience dieback throughout the year though at varying levels. Copyright