Improving agriculture’s contribution to nutrition in Malawi: A conceptual introduction

With Malawian diets heavily dominated by staple foods—maize first and foremost, but also rice and cassava in some areas—food security in Malawi is often equated with having access to enough maize. What is missing in this traditional measure of food security in Malawi is the importance of the quality...

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Autores principales: Harris, Jody, Meerman, Janice, Aberman, Noora-Lisa
Formato: Capítulo de libro
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/147234
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author Harris, Jody
Meerman, Janice
Aberman, Noora-Lisa
author_browse Aberman, Noora-Lisa
Harris, Jody
Meerman, Janice
author_facet Harris, Jody
Meerman, Janice
Aberman, Noora-Lisa
author_sort Harris, Jody
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description With Malawian diets heavily dominated by staple foods—maize first and foremost, but also rice and cassava in some areas—food security in Malawi is often equated with having access to enough maize. What is missing in this traditional measure of food security in Malawi is the importance of the quality, in addition to the quantity, of dietary intake. This household-level scenario is reflected in, and exacerbated by, national development priorities; food security is a top-line agenda item for agriculture in Malawi, whereas nutrition is still considered primarily a health issue. To guide analysis and action in this complex environment, we present a conceptual framework to illuminate the multiple and complex linkages from agriculture to food security and nutrition. This framework reveals a number of ways in which the agriculture sector can help strengthen diet quality. These include: (1) promoting production of nutrient-dense foods via subsidies and other incentives; (2) promoting food processing, marketing, and consumption in ways that conserve nutrients, create demand, and decrease prices; and (3) supporting women farmers through, for example, targeted efforts to increase their productivity and bargaining power.
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spelling CGSpace1472342025-11-06T03:54:54Z Improving agriculture’s contribution to nutrition in Malawi: A conceptual introduction Harris, Jody Meerman, Janice Aberman, Noora-Lisa frameworks nutrient intake capacity development agriculture smallholders malnutrition nutrition food security food prices poverty diet diversification With Malawian diets heavily dominated by staple foods—maize first and foremost, but also rice and cassava in some areas—food security in Malawi is often equated with having access to enough maize. What is missing in this traditional measure of food security in Malawi is the importance of the quality, in addition to the quantity, of dietary intake. This household-level scenario is reflected in, and exacerbated by, national development priorities; food security is a top-line agenda item for agriculture in Malawi, whereas nutrition is still considered primarily a health issue. To guide analysis and action in this complex environment, we present a conceptual framework to illuminate the multiple and complex linkages from agriculture to food security and nutrition. This framework reveals a number of ways in which the agriculture sector can help strengthen diet quality. These include: (1) promoting production of nutrient-dense foods via subsidies and other incentives; (2) promoting food processing, marketing, and consumption in ways that conserve nutrients, create demand, and decrease prices; and (3) supporting women farmers through, for example, targeted efforts to increase their productivity and bargaining power. 2018-02-22 2024-06-21T09:12:29Z 2024-06-21T09:12:29Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/147234 en https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896292864 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Harris, Jody; Meerman, Janice; and Aberman, Noora-Lisa. 2018. Improving agriculture’s contribution to nutrition in Malawi: A conceptual introduction. In Agriculture, food security, and nutrition in Malawi: Leveraging the links, eds. Noora-Lisa Aberman, Janice Meerman, and Todd Benson. Chapter 1, Pp. 9-16. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://hdl.handle.net/10568/147234
spellingShingle frameworks
nutrient intake
capacity development
agriculture
smallholders
malnutrition
nutrition
food security
food prices
poverty
diet
diversification
Harris, Jody
Meerman, Janice
Aberman, Noora-Lisa
Improving agriculture’s contribution to nutrition in Malawi: A conceptual introduction
title Improving agriculture’s contribution to nutrition in Malawi: A conceptual introduction
title_full Improving agriculture’s contribution to nutrition in Malawi: A conceptual introduction
title_fullStr Improving agriculture’s contribution to nutrition in Malawi: A conceptual introduction
title_full_unstemmed Improving agriculture’s contribution to nutrition in Malawi: A conceptual introduction
title_short Improving agriculture’s contribution to nutrition in Malawi: A conceptual introduction
title_sort improving agriculture s contribution to nutrition in malawi a conceptual introduction
topic frameworks
nutrient intake
capacity development
agriculture
smallholders
malnutrition
nutrition
food security
food prices
poverty
diet
diversification
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/147234
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