Comparative Study of Agricultural Production Diversity and Household Diet Diversity in Kailali and Syangja Districts Comparative Study of Agricultural Production Diversity and Household Diet Diversity in Kailali and Syangja Districts

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out agricultural production diversity and household diet diversity in farming households and examine their statistical relationship. Data on production, consumption, and socioeconomic factors were collected from the cross-sectional survey using the semi-structured questionnaire in 2018, in which 120 respondents (60 from Kailali district and 60 from Syangja district) were interviewed. Agricultural production diversity was defined from species count for each household, and household diet diversity was obtained from dietary diversity score (DDS) using 12 food groups by the FAO in preceding 24 h recall period. Data analysis in the SPSS showed that the average species count of each household was 11.79 with average crop and livestock count of 7.95 and 3.88, respectively. Average DDS was 7.7 with minimum value 4 and maximum value 10. Agricultural production diversity and household diet diversity were positively correlated (0.249**, at 0.01 level). Household diet diversity was positively correlated with size of landholding and size of kitchen garden. The consumption behavior shows that 100% of household have consumed cereals, 75% have consumed milk products, 52% have consumed fruits, and only 21% of the respondents have consumed meat and egg in the last 24 h recall period. Percentage of household consuming milk and milk products were higher in Syangja, whereas households consuming meat, egg, and fish were higher in Kailali. Wheat items were major alternative staple food in Kailali, whereas maize, millet, and wheat items were common alternative staple foods in Syangja. This study suggests that diversified agricultural production system is a promising strategy to provide diversified diet and ultimately improve food and nutrition security of farming households.