Food security and improved nutrition for the poor – a multidisciplinary research task

Convener contact: Ulf Magnusson, AgriFoSe, SLU

Contact: ulf.magnusson@slu.se

Today more than 800 million people around the world suffer from chronic hunger and about 2 billion from under-nutrition. This failure by humanity is challenged in the UN Sustainability Development Goal (SDG) number 2: “end hunger, achieved food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” and “end hunger” was also on the top of the past Millenium Development Goals.

To feed all the people at the planet with enough calories and nutrients is one of humanity’s largest challenges and calls for global, multi-sectorial and multi disciplinary efforts. There is no one-fix solution. Obviously there is a need for science-based knowledge in these efforts – food security and improved nutrition for the poor in low-income countries connects to agriculture, trade regulations, use of natural resources, economic and other policies, climate change and gender inequity.

The objective of the panel is to illuminate SDG 2 from different scientific angels and enlighten colleagues from different disciplines and stimulate to cross-disciplinary cooperation. There is a potential for a considerable scientific leverage in such cooperation. The foreseen format of the panel is one introductory overarching lecture by one invited senior colleague and then several shorter abstract-based presentations. The panel ends with a panel debate where different options are discussed and perhaps some consensus statement.

Session A: 23 Aug., 11:00–12:30, William-Olsson Lecture Hall

• Food security and vulnerability in developing countries: empirical findings from a household survey. Asad K. Ghalib, Liverpool Hope University / The University of Manchester, UK.
• Links and Relations between BMI data in two Ugandan Cities with Individual Characteristics, and the Household’s Food Environment, Health Situation and Agricultural Engagement. Heather Mackay, Umeå University.
• Impact of Rising Maize Prices on Welfare when allowing for price heterogeneity. Jörgen Levin and Elin Vimefall, Örebro University.
• Dietary diversity score for food intake of under five children and their association with socio-demographic factors & food security in rural Bangladesh. Nazia Binte Ali, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; Tazeen Tahsina, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; D M Emdadul Hoque, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; Bushra Amena, World Vision Bangladesh; Md. Mezanur Rahman, World Vision Bangladesh and Shams El Arifeen, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research.
• Mothers’ intra-household decision making autonomy and its associations with the dietary diversity of 6-24 month old children in Majune, Mozambique: a cross-sectional study. Patricia Kasarigilak, Uppsala University.

Session B: 23 Aug., 14:00–15:30, William-Olsson Lecture Hall

• Linking household capital assets, livelihood strategies, and food security. Aisa O. Manlosa, Jannik Schultner, Ine Dorresteijn, Jan Hanspach, Tolera Senbeto Jiren, and Joern Fischer, Leuphana University.
• Food Security, Nutrition and Commercialization in sub-Saharan Africa – a synthesis of Afrint findings. Agnes Andersson Djurfeldt, Lund University.
• The importance of including soil constraints in crop suitability modelling – as case study in Tanzania. Kristin Piikki, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) / Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); Leigh Winowiecki, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF); Tor-Gunnar Vågen, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF); Julian Ramirez-Villegas, CIAT / University of Leeds / Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and Mats Söderström, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) / Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
• The role of livestock and crop production in national food security and nutrition - projections and historical trends for eight developing countries. D. Enahoro, M. Lannerstad and C. Pfeifer, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
• Piggy-banks and smallholder farming systems provide economic resilience against animal disease. E. Chenais, National Veterinary Institute / Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); S. Boqvist, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); S. Sternberg-Lewerin, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); U. Emanuelson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); T. Aliro, Directorate of Production and Marketing, Gulu District Local Government, Uganda; E. Ouma, International Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda and K. Ståhl, National Veterinary Institute / Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

Session C: 23 Aug., 16:00–17:30, William-Olsson Lecture Hall

• Hidden hunger and livestock-keeping small-holders: different purposes and gendered responsibilities. Gunilla Ström, Kristina Osbjer, Sokerya Seng, Sofia Boqvist, Agnes Djurfeldt and Ulf Magnusson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
• To empower farmers with information and communication technology tools that will increase their productivity and incomes as well as protect their food security and livelihoods. Mannan Mridha and Björn-Erik Erlandsson, KTH Royal Institute of Technology. 
• The dynamics of rural household livelihood diversification in Senegal and Kenya: Evidence from panel data. Alobo Sarah Loison, Lund University.
• The slash-and-burn agricultural system in Southern of Brazil: characteristics, food production and constraints. Edivaldo L. Thomaz, Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste; Maikeli M. Kerniski, Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste and Staffan Rosell, University of Gothenburg.
• Association of wasting among children under-5 years of age with food security and socio-demographic profile of households in selected areas of Bangladesh: lessons from a cross-sectional survey. Tazeen Tahsina, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; Nazia Binte Ali, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; D M Emdadul Haque, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; Tanvir M Huda, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; Bushra Amena, World Vision Bangladesh; Md Mezanur Rahman, World Vision Bangladesh and Shams El Arifeen, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research.

Abstracts

Food security and vulnerability in developing countries: empirical findings from a household survey. Asad K. Ghalib, Liverpool Hope University / The University of Manchester, UK.

This study examines rural household food poverty across two broad dimensions: the quality of food intake and the stock of storable food supplies held at a dwelling. It draws on first-hand observations and empirical data gathered from interviews of 1,132 households across 11 districts in the rural areas of the province of Punjab in Pakistan. It employs a quasi-experimental research design and makes use of data collected by interviewing heads of households. The field instrument captured how well each household copes with food-related aspects. The questions grouped food consumption into two broad categories: staple and luxury foods, with a recall period kept within the seven days immediately preceding the interview. Wheat was selected as the staple food as it is the primary food consumption item throughout the study area and throughout the year. Rice was the second staple food, whereas lentils and vegetables were classed as ‘inferior foods’ and all forms of meat were classified as ‘luxury food items’. Findings reveal that stocks of storable staple foods held in households were highly correlated to their relative poverty/wealth status. Households that were relatively less poor showed a more stable consumption pattern and had a larger stock of storable staple food while rice, an alternative, showed a much lower level of correlation with relative wealth status. Another indicator highly correlated with relative poverty status was the number of days in which ‘luxury’ or ‘staple’ foods were consumed. Strong correlations were also found between quality of food consumed, the stocks held and other dimensions of well-being such household assets, the quality of dwelling, household income, expenditure and savings, etc. While the empirical research employs a household survey, it subsequently delves into deeper and broader issues and unpacks the underlying constrains in the wider context that have led rural people to suffer from food poverty and poor nutrition. Such issues encompass wide-ranging dimensions that include polices relating to trade and agriculture, social and economic policies, the impact of climate change and other regulatory constraints that impact food security, vulnerability and nutrition of the rural poor.

Links and Relations between BMI data in two Ugandan Cities with Individual Characteristics, and the Household’s Food Environment, Health Situation and Agricultural Engagement. Heather Mackay, Umeå University.

This ongoing work investigates linkages between urban households' differing engagement in agriculture and their dietary diversity, food security and socio-economic status, and with the body mass index (BMI) of adults. Part of a project investigating double burden of malnutrition (Popkin, 1994; Ruel et al, 1999), and assessing claims of ameliorative potential of own food production FAO, 2013; Mwangi, 1995; Maxwell et al, 1999; Tinker, 1994). Aim is to provide an in-depth look at the patterns and expressions of aspects of the food and health environment and households' agricultural activities in order to shed light on the role and implication of agriculture at the city-scale. Indications are that surveyed urban households' involvement in agriculture in the two Ugandan cities of Mbarara and Mbale was high (approximately 20-30% were involved in urban agriculture; 30-40% were involved in rural agriculture); mean dietary diversity was low overall with statistically significant differences by type of agricultural engagement. Low dietary diversity (fewer than 5 food groups in 24 hours) was more common in Uganda (40-50% of surveyed households, compared to 8% in Kenya and 30% in Ghana). Food insecurity was higher in Kenyan and Ugandan cities.  Self-reported consumption of fried snacks, sugar and fizzy drinks appears high in Uganda. Levels of overweight and obesity (particularly in females), and self-reported presence of hypertension and diabetes, was alarming in Ugandan cities. The BMI data for individual adults shows clear hotspots and coldspots in distribution patterns across the cities.  Attempts will be made to model these patterns.

Impact of Rising Maize Prices on Welfare when allowing for price heterogeneity. Jörgen Levin and Elin Vimefall, Örebro University.

In this paper we explore the welfare impact of higher maize prices on different regions and socioeconomic groups in Kenya. We find that about 80% of the population would be negatively affected if the price increased and that poor households lose a larger proportion of their income than better of households. More specifically; rural landless households loose the most, while households with landholdings of 5 acers and above would gain. Simulating a 25% increase in maize prices, we find that rural poverty would increase by about 1 percentage point and urban poverty by 0.5 percentage point. However the impact differs among regions where poverty would increase by 3 percentage points in the rural parts of Coast, while poverty would be almost unchanged in the rural parts of Western. Furthermore; we relax the standard assumption that consumer and producer prices change with the same proportion and allow for difference in marketing margin among districts. We show that this have a strong impact on the results, indicating that results from previous research is biased.

Dietary diversity score for food intake of under five children and their association with socio-demographic factors & food security in rural Bangladesh. Nazia Binte Ali, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; Tazeen Tahsina, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; D M Emdadul Hoque, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; Bushra Amena, World Vision Bangladesh; Md. Mezanur Rahman, World Vision Bangladesh and Shams El Arifeen, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research.

Background & objective: Lack of food diversity is one of the major barrier for ensuring optimal growth and development of children under five years of age. Dietary diversity score (DDS)  is a proxy indicator for measuring food diversity. We therefore, aim to identify the current pattern of DDS and their association with socio-demographic factors and food security in rural Bangladesh. Methods: We used data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Mymensingh and Rajshahi regions of Bangladesh between July to October 2014. The survey covered 7039 children under-five years of age. We have collected data for last 24 hours food intake of under five children. We categorised the food groups into 7 and DDS was generated into an ordinal fashion with a minimum score of 0 to maximum 7. Our analysis includes descriptive analysis and multivariable ordinal logistic regressions. Results: Overall, the highest percentage of under-five children obtain a DDS score of 4 (27%) followed by 3 (23%) and 5 (18%). Multivariable analysis revealed that children having mothers with 6 or more years of education [OR 1.38(P<0.05)], mothers involved in skilled work [OR 1.81 (P<0.000)], fathers having similar educational attainment [OR 1.22 (P<0.005)], belonging to higher wealth quintile [OR 1.15(P<0.05); ); OR 1.23(P<0.005)OR 1.26(P<0.005); OR 1.98(P<0.000) for  middle, fourth and highest quintile respectively], and having household food security [OR 1.25 (P<0.000)] were found to be associated with higher DDS. Children who suffered from an illness in two weeks preceding the survey [OR 0.81 (P<0.000)] were significantly associated with getting lower DDS. Conclusions: Household food security, economic status and parents educational attainment along with reduction of childhood illnesses can significantly improve dietary diversity and thereby reduce undernutrition among under five children.

Mothers’ intra-household decision making autonomy and its associations with the dietary diversity of 6-24 month old children in Majune, Mozambique: a cross-sectional study. Patricia Kasarigilak, Uppsala University.

Introduction: Chronic undernutrition in children <5 is a public health concern in rural Mozambique. In this context, maternal autonomy may be an important factor influencing mothers’ abilities of providing their children with diverse and nutritious foods. Objective: To evaluate the associations between mothers’ intra-household decision making autonomy and the dietary diversity of 6-24 month old children in rural Mozambique. Design: Cross-sectional. Children’s dietary diversity was evaluated based on the number of food-groups consumed over a 24-hour period. Maternal autonomy was assessed using a ten-item questionnaire. Information on household, maternal and child characteristics were treated as covariates. Multiple logistic regression was carried out to investigate crude and adjusted associations. Subjects and setting: 172 mother-child dyads in Majune, Mozambique. Results: Adequate dietary diversity was found in 9.3% of the studied children. Children of mothers belonging to the middle and lowest autonomy-tertiles were less likely to have an adequate dietary diversity (aOR: 0.16, CI: 0.03-0.74 and aOR: 0.04, CI: <0.001-0.33, respectively) as compared to children of mothers belonging to the highest autonomy-tertile. Conclusions: Policies and interventions that promote the empowerment of women have the potential benefit of impacting mothers’ abilities of providing their children with diverse and nutritious foods. Actions that target agricultural development as well as stimulate the creation of income-generating livelihood opportunities also need to be considered in order to effectively improve the diversity of children’s complementary food diets.

Linking household capital assets, livelihood strategies, and food security. Aisa O. Manlosa, Jannik Schultner, Ine Dorresteijn, Jan Hanspach, Tolera Senbeto Jiren, and Joern Fischer, Leuphana University.

The UN Sustainable Development Goal of achieving food and nutrition security for 800 million and 2 billion people, respectively, is a massive challenge that requires concerted efforts by different sectors and disciplines. Livelihoods research can offer insights into the mechanisms by which farming households and communities combine a range of capital assets (i.e. physical, economic, social, human, and natural assets) to achieve food security. Drawing on data from 362 household surveys and 30 semi-structured interviews, we examined how access (or lack of access) to capital assets influences choice of livelihood strategies and household food security in southwestern Ethiopia. We hypothesized that distinct configurations of asset ownership result in distinct livelihood strategies and food security outcomes. We constructed a model to describe the relationships between these elements, and to investigate how one type of capital or asset increases or decreases in importance in the face of scarcity or availability of others. We posit that livelihood strategies have the potential of sustainably maintaining or improving a given household’s food security if they enable the maintenance or improvement of capital assets. In contrast, erosion of capital assets (e.g. weakening social ties, declining biodiversity) can undermine a household’s capacity to achieve food security. Determining the relationships between capital assets, livelihood strategies, and food security can contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms by which food security is achieved in different contexts. By differentiating between livelihood strategies that build capital assets or erode them, the proposed framework provides insights into possible ways in which policies and interventions may or may not effectively support poor, rural households.

Food Security, Nutrition and Commercialization in sub-Saharan Africa – a synthesis of Afrint findings. Agnes Andersson Djurfeldt, Lund University.

Data from the Afrint database will be used, covering 2100 smallholders in six African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, surveyed in 2002, 2008 and 2013. Three key aspects of food and nutrition security and their linkages to commercialization will be addressed. Aspects of food and nutrition security will be addressed on the basis of consumption data for the major grain crops as well as in kind transfers of grains leaving the household, enabling the possibility of controlling for consumption that occurs outside the co-resident household unit. The reciprocity of such linkages will be analysed through data on cash remittances as well as the existence of in-kind transfers into the rural household. Nutritional diversity will be captured through data on purchases of animal source foods and household access to livestock. Changes in general food security status will be addressed through the number of meals eaten during the lean season (2008 and 2013) and whether the household reduces the quality of meals eaten during the lean season (2008). All of the above indicators will be used to for regional comparisons of households by (a) sex of head of household (b) commercialization pathways, comparing the food security of households that have increased their commercialization between the different periods (2002 to 2008 and 2008 to 2013) and those who have not. An important aspect in this regard is the possibility of distinguishing between distress driven commercialization and commercialization that is connected to improvements in food security.

The importance of including soil constraints in crop suitability modelling – as case study in Tanzania. Kristin Piikki, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) / Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); Leigh Winowiecki, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF); Tor-Gunnar Vågen, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF); Julian Ramirez-Villegas, CIAT / University of Leeds / Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and Mats Söderström, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) / Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

The suitable areas for different crop species are currently changing due to the progressive climate change. Spatial crop suitability models are becoming important planning tools for agricultural development and policy formulation. However, output from such models will vary depending on functionality and input. In East Africa, low soil organic carbon (SOC) content has been pointed out as an important limiting factor for soil fertility. We have incorporated SOC as a constraining factor in  a spatial crop suitability model (EcoCrop) that until now has been based solely on temperature and precipitation. EcoCrop was run with and without the soil fertility add-on for common beans (Phaseoulus vulgaris L.) on a 0.5 km square grid across Tanzania. The climate rasters were derived from Worldclim and spatially bias corrected by CIAT (Cali, Colombia). The SOC raster was derived from a combination of soil samples and remote sensing data by ICRAF (Nairobi, Kenya). Taking the low SOC level into account improved the correlation between predicted suitability and production statistics at the regional level, compared to when the model was run solely based on climate data. Simulations showed that low SOC is currently more limiting for common bean suitability than climate in »50 % of the Tanzanian land area (protected areas excluded).  However, model runs based on climate projections (RCP 8.5 –an emissions pathway essentially without climate policies) suggest that climate would be more limiting than SOC in the near future (the 2030s).

The role of livestock and crop production in national food security and nutrition - projections and historical trends for eight developing countries. D. Enahoro, M. Lannerstad and C. Pfeifer, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

The Sustainable Development Goals seek to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture” (List of SDGs is available at http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/. Goal on hunger is #2.), articulating a shift in focus from food-energy deficits, to concerns about dietary quality. In emerging and other developing countries, this can be viewed within the context of the ongoing shift in diets towards higher protein and micronutrient content – both of which animal source foods (ASFs) can offer relative abundance. This paper quantifies the relative contribution of crops and livestock to national and per capita food and nutritional supplies for a number of developing countries and regions. The study applies system analysis to historic and future trends on food supply and demand in eight developing countries (Selected countries are priority under the second phase of the CGIAR research program on livestock agri-food systems, i.e., Nicaragua, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, India and Vietnam, where research will use a value chain approach to achieve transformative change.). Historic trends build on FAO statistics while a global economic model is used to generate statistics corresponding to scenarios of future economic conditions. The paper presents changes in crop and livestock production, productivity, trade, prices, food supply and food security for each country, comparing key results on: 1) Per capita food supply and national food sufficiency with regard to calories, proteins, fats and micronutrients; considering trade and the competition for biomass as livestock feeds, 2) Implications for smallholder farmers and women; and for the physical environment.

Piggy-banks and smallholder farming systems provide economic resilience against animal disease. E. Chenais, National Veterinary Institute / Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); S. Boqvist, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); S. Sternberg-Lewerin, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); U. Emanuelson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU); T. Aliro, Directorate of Production and Marketing, Gulu District Local Government, Uganda; E. Ouma, International Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda and K. Ståhl, National Veterinary Institute / Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

Outbreaks of infectious animal diseases disrupt the livelihoods of poor people in the same ways as civil unrest or other catastrophes. In poor households these impacts are aggravated as the animals represent multiple roles. Uganda is a low-income country with the largest pig population in east Africa. The majority of pigs are kept by smallholders. African swine fever (ASF), a fatal, viral infection of pigs, is endemic in the domestic pig population. The objective of this study was to investigate the socio-economic impacts of ASF in northern Uganda in a longitudinal survey. Structured interviews with two hundred, randomly selected, pig-keeping households were undertaken three times with six months interval. The study showed that pigs were kept in extreme low-input-low-output farming systems involving very small monetary investments. Thirty-five percent of the households experienced ASF at least once, outbreaks resulted in lower gross margin income from the pig production. Meanwhile some households retained a positive financial balance despite numerous pig deaths. Trade and consumption of sick and dead pigs were coping strategies used to minimize losses of capital and animal protein. The results indicate that smallholder farming systems provide economic resilience against outbreaks of animal diseases, but also that causality of economic impact in such systems are complex. Dead pigs represent a potential income that could serve to reduce poverty. However, as pigs are seen as piggy banks rather than economic entities, arguments for disease control cannot be based on standard economic models but have to be adopted to the local situation.

Hidden hunger and livestock-keeping small-holders: different purposes and gendered responsibilities. Gunilla Ström, Kristina Osbjer, Sokerya Seng, Sofia Boqvist, Agnes Djurfeldt and Ulf Magnusson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

“Hidden hunger” – people lacking micronutrients in their diets - is a common but serious condition in low-income countries.  This condition is mitigated by adequate intake of animal source foods that are rich in these micronutrients. However, for giving sensible recommendations or suggest effective interventions for increasing the accessibility of animal source food for a poor smallholder household, there is a need to know about their live-stock keeping. Therefore, two studies were conducted in rural (R) and peri-urban (PU) Cambodia, comprising 300 and 204 households with livestock, respectively. In the R households the purpose of keeping pigs and buffalo was for sale, whereas poultry were kept for own consumption and for sale. In the PU households, pigs were raised for sale only.  In both R and PU households, shared responsibility for the animals between men and women were common (40% and 28 %, respectively). However, in the rural households, men were more often responsible for buffalo and cattle (83%) than for poultry (18%), whereas the opposite was true for women. In the PU households it was more common that women alone took care of the pigs than men (43% vs. 29%). We conclude that the purpose for keeping livestock species, for own consumption or for earning income, vary by species. We also found that there is a gendered responsibility for the livestock by species. These diverse findings suggest that these kind of analyses would likely help to optimize interventions for improving the access to animal source foods.

To empower farmers with information and communication technology tools that will increase their productivity and incomes as well as protect their food security and livelihoods. Mannan Mridha and Björn-Erik Erlandsson, KTH Royal Institute of Technology. 

In most developing countries, although the vast majority of the people are living in the rural areas, the qualified medical doctors are not available there. Health care workers and paramedics, called village doctors, informal healthcare providers, are largely responsible for the rural medical care. Mishaps due to wrong diagnosis and inappropriate medication have been causing serious suffering that is preventable. In order to improve rural health care facilities and achieve health equity and patient safety, together with the local partners in Bangladesh, we set up a model center for empowering the village doctors and female health workers through training them to use smart and affordable medical devices and appropriate ICT tools, to address some of the most serious health problems of the rural disadvantaged people, and offer Point-of-Care services for women and children in particular. Our e-Health initiatives in rural settings in rural India and Bangladesh with some ICT based solutions and approaches to local needs have shown potentials for improving village doctors’performance. Taking advantages of the popularity, affordability, potentials and acceptance of smartphones and Internet access, e-Health services can address rural needs and conditionsto prepare a model for improving rural health environment. We plan to continue further work for: i) creating access to reliable, robust and cost effective medical devices, ii) developing education and training packages for safe use the diagnostic devices and ICT tools, iii) providing robust and reliable connectivity to the medical experts for disease treatment and offering Point of Care services, iv) developing appropriate e-Learning content on health education for disease prevention and treat health problems which routinely afflict the rural people. Carefully designed e-Health work, with the local needs and conditions in mind, will gain acceptability among rural people for illness management, disease detection, disease prevention, health awareness improvement, and all that can lead to poverty reduction, and promising and sustainable socio-economic development.

The dynamics of rural household livelihood diversification in Senegal and Kenya: Evidence from panel data. Alobo Sarah Loison, Lund University.

Livelihood diversification has been recognised as the norm in rural Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and an important pathway for reducing poverty, increasing employment, food security and welfare. However, very few studies have explored its dynamics at household level, mainly because of longitudinal data limitations. This study attempts to fill the gap by using panel data to explore the patterns and dynamics of livelihood diversification and its impacts on household welfare in rural SSA. The data comes from a collective total of about 1000 rural households in 2008 and 2013, collected by Afrint project (Lund University) in Kenya and RuralStruc project (CIRAD/WorldBank) in Senegal. Cluster analysis methods are used to characterise and study the livelihood diversification strategies of the rural households. Furthermore, their extent of diversification and transition away from agriculture is examined. Finally the impact of diversification on rural household welfare is estimated using econometric methods. Findings will provide insights on the dynamics and impacts of livelihood diversification, and its role in the broader process of structural and agricultural transformation in SSA.

The slash-and-burn agricultural system in Southern of Brazil: characteristics, food production and constraints. Edivaldo L. Thomaz, Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste; Maikeli M. Kerniski, Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste and Staffan Rosell, University of Gothenburg.

Slash-and-burn agricultural system is a long rural tradition practiced in tropical countries. The slash-and-burn crop production is considered low and mainly used as subsistence farming. We assume, even with low productivity, in Prudentópolis municipality the slash-and-burn is capable to produce food beyond the smallholder’s subsistence due to it is practiced extensively. The aim is to investigate the slash-and-burn characteristics in the region and to assess the key constraints for its persistence. We performed a three level research strategy analyses: a) government official dataset series of bean productivity from 1947 to 2010; b) semi-structured interviews with farmer’s involved in slash-and-burn system in three rural communities; c) semi-structured interviews with experts. There has been a long and important in terms of food security tradition of black bean production carried out on slash-and-burn agricultural system in Prudentópolis municipality in Parana. The slash-and-burn is a coupled human-environment systems that coexists with conventional agricultural system. The slash-and-burn agricultural system is practiced over hilly terrain with shallow soil. In addition, mountainous areas prevent the agricultural modernization e.g., machinery ensuring the slash-and-burn persistence. Even though, the slash-and-burn occupies an area of 11,200 ha destined mainly for bean crop and it produces ~8,976 t corresponding to 30% of the total bean yielded in Prudentópolis. The slash-and-burn system is threatened due to migration of the young population which leads to an ageing population which goes into retirement and leaves the farming activities. This will enhance the questions about sustainable food production in the future in areas with a traditional slash-and-burn agricultural system.

Association of wasting among children under-5 years of age with food security and socio-demographic profile of households in selected areas of Bangladesh: lessons from a cross-sectional survey. Tazeen Tahsina, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; Nazia Binte Ali, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; D M Emdadul Haque, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; Tanvir M Huda, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research; Bushra Amena, World Vision Bangladesh; Md Mezanur Rahman, World Vision Bangladesh and Shams El Arifeen, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research.

Background and Objectives: Currently the prevalence of wasting in Bangladesh is 14%. We aim to whether health status, socio-economic and demographic profile and food security is associated with childhood wasting in rural Bangladesh. Methods: We used data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Mymensingh and Rajshahi regions of Bangladesh between July to October 2014 covering 7039 children under-five years of age. Our primary outcome was wasting among under-five children categorized in 6-23 months (n=2507) and 24-59 (n=3991) months to address the difference in IYCF practices. Our analysis includes descriptive statistics and bi-variate logistic regression. Results: 17 percent children under-five years were wasted in the study area. Prevalence of wasting was 17% and 19% among 6-23 months and 24-59 months old children respectively. Among children aged 6-23 months, those coming from food secured households [OR-0.81 (P<0.05)] were 19 times less likely to be wasted compared to food insecured households. Those belonging to the highest wealth quintile were 33 times less likely to be wasted [OR 0.67 (P<0.05] compared to ones from lowest wealth quintile. Mothers and fathers having 6 or more years of education ([OR 0.72(P<0.05)] and [OR 0.72(P<0.005)]) were protective against wasting. For children aged 24-59 months, those from the highest wealth quintile [OR 0.74(P<0.05)] were 26 times more protected against wasting while those having any illness in two weeks prior to the survey [OR 1.43 (P<0.000)] were 43 times more likely to be wasted. Conclusions: Household food security, economic status and parents’ educational attainment along with reduction of childhood illnesses can significantly reduce childhood wasting.