What are the links between tree-based farming and dietary quality for rural households? A review of emerging evidence in low- and middle-income countries

In most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), conventional agricultural policy promotes specialized production systems of carbohydrate-rich crops to address hunger and food insecurity. For rural populations, however, increased landscape uniformity can reduce both agrobiodiversity and wild biodiversity, which can contribute to diet uniformity. Although maintaining diversity in and around agricultural systems is far from a new approach, there is growing empirical attention on the contribution of trees on/around farms to dietary quality. While recent research suggests that forests can contribute to improved diets, there is only emerging evidence on how incorporating trees into farming systems not only benefits nature but also positively affects the diets of rural households.

Food consumption and nutritional status of sedentarized Baka Pygmies in Southern Cameroon: wild foods are less important for those who farm

The sedentarization of Pygmies in the Congo Basin has triggered a profound transformation in their traditional lifestyles, particularly affecting dietary habits and food consumption. We employed 24-hour dietary recalls in 10 sedentarized Baka Pygmy villages in southeastern Cameroon, gathering data on diet composition, diversity (Household Dietary Diversity Score, HDDS), and nutrient intake per adult male equivalent (AME) from 67 homes (28% of all households). Our findings revealed that 62% of consumed foods were agricultural produce, 29% were locally produced or purchased products, and the remaining 9% comprised items sourced or hunted from the wild. The average HDDS per village was low (4.1±1.56) and mean total energy intake was 1734.9±1,031.8 kcal/AME, with significant contributions from cultivated foods. There was a negative correlation between the consumption of cultivated and wild foods. Moreover, a considerable proportion of households (78.7%, ranging from 22.4% to 97%) exhibited nutrient consumption below the lower 95% uncertainty interval found in a Cameroonian nutrient supply study. Additionally, 78.3% of respondents fell below WHO/FAO recommendations for 21 nutrients, even after adjusting for the Baka’s shorter stature. This high prevalence of insufficient nutrient intake underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to address nutritional deficiencies within this population. We show Baka households rely more on cultivated foods and are less dependent on wild sources. Understanding the profound transformation in dietary patterns and its repercussions on the health and overall well-being of the studied marginalized Indigenous communities is pivotal in devising strategies to enhance their survival. This shift in dietary profiles often stems from complex factors, including socioeconomic challenges, environmental changes, and cultural shifts. To address these issues effectively, a comprehensive approach that integrates cultural sensitivity, community engagement, and sustainable practices is imperative.

Potential impacts of swidden rice transitions on nutrient intake in Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Traditional swidden rice cultivation in Kapuas Hulu consists of long-fallow cycles practiced on forested slopes. As oil palm development accelerates swidden transitions, these traditional practices are increasingly replaced by modified swidden systems which incorporate shorter fallows, and less forest regeneration.
This report documents changes in rice cultivation practices and the types and varieties of rice cultivated among smallholder farmers. Using a mix of primary and secondary data, this report highlights the great diversity of local varieties of rice still cultivated — many of which are indigenous to the region. However, as oil palm adopting households alter their cultivation practices, locally produced rice appears to comprise a smaller proportion of rice consumption and a smaller share of rice available in the market food system.
The nutritional consequences of these transitions are as yet unknown. Existing Food Composition Tables (FCT) for rice consist of only a few varieties and comparisons between locally produced and market origin rice are not available. However, many indigenous rice varieties have been shown to be nutritionally superior to higher-yielding alternatives commonly found in market systems. Given the significant quantities of rice being consumed, even small differences in nutrient content may have effects on nutrient intake and nutritional adequacy.
This report recommends investigation of the nutritional effects of changes in swidden rice transitions. An urgent priority is the nutritional analysis of indigenous rice varieties to be included in local and national FCTs. Such improved tables can then be used to model nutritional effects at the population level of changes in swidden rice cultivation and local food systems, and provide agricultural and health program planners with actionable recommendations to improve the health and nutrition of local populations.

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