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Does production diversity support dietary diversity? : Evidence from pastoral and agro-pastoral households in West Pokot County, Kenya

Ipara, Billy Okemer ; Otieno, David Jakinda ; Oluoch-Kosura, Willis ; Andago, Angela Adhiambo ; Jirström, Magnus LU ; Mackay, Heather LU orcid ; Fernqvist, Fredrik and Rajala, Elisabeth (2025) In Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 9.
Abstract
Consumption of part of own-produced food is regarded as a sustainable approach to attaining dietary diversity and a pathway to improved food and nutrition security. However, empirical evidence on the relationship between production diversity and dietary diversity is inconclusive, with some studies demonstrating a positive relationship while others reveal conflicting results. Furthermore, this relationship has not been examined in pastoral contexts. We used data from 502 pastoral and agro-pastoral households in West Pokot County, Kenya, to assess the relationship between production indicators and household dietary diversity. Our results show that households with more diverse production had more diverse diets. Additionally, we find that... (More)
Consumption of part of own-produced food is regarded as a sustainable approach to attaining dietary diversity and a pathway to improved food and nutrition security. However, empirical evidence on the relationship between production diversity and dietary diversity is inconclusive, with some studies demonstrating a positive relationship while others reveal conflicting results. Furthermore, this relationship has not been examined in pastoral contexts. We used data from 502 pastoral and agro-pastoral households in West Pokot County, Kenya, to assess the relationship between production indicators and household dietary diversity. Our results show that households with more diverse production had more diverse diets. Additionally, we find that nutritional awareness, engagement in off-farm enterprises, income, market participation, and location based on agro-ecological characteristics influence dietary diversity. Our findings suggest that more diverse crop-livestock systems appropriate to the agro-ecological conditions of West Pokot may be a strategy toward addressing the nutritional inadequacies experienced in the region. Further investigation of the wider implications of such a transition is suggested. (Less)
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organization
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
volume
9
publisher
Frontiers Media S. A.
external identifiers
  • scopus:105000326410
ISSN
2571-581X
DOI
10.3389/fsufs.2025.1512272
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ff80833b-6acf-4586-a78d-190dd42ab1f8
date added to LUP
2025-02-27 08:50:55
date last changed
2025-06-16 04:01:27
@article{ff80833b-6acf-4586-a78d-190dd42ab1f8,
  abstract     = {{Consumption of part of own-produced food is regarded as a sustainable approach to attaining dietary diversity and a pathway to improved food and nutrition security. However, empirical evidence on the relationship between production diversity and dietary diversity is inconclusive, with some studies demonstrating a positive relationship while others reveal conflicting results. Furthermore, this relationship has not been examined in pastoral contexts. We used data from 502 pastoral and agro-pastoral households in West Pokot County, Kenya, to assess the relationship between production indicators and household dietary diversity. Our results show that households with more diverse production had more diverse diets. Additionally, we find that nutritional awareness, engagement in off-farm enterprises, income, market participation, and location based on agro-ecological characteristics influence dietary diversity. Our findings suggest that more diverse crop-livestock systems appropriate to the agro-ecological conditions of West Pokot may be a strategy toward addressing the nutritional inadequacies experienced in the region. Further investigation of the wider implications of such a transition is suggested.}},
  author       = {{Ipara, Billy Okemer and Otieno, David Jakinda and Oluoch-Kosura, Willis and Andago, Angela Adhiambo and Jirström, Magnus and Mackay, Heather and Fernqvist, Fredrik and Rajala, Elisabeth}},
  issn         = {{2571-581X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  publisher    = {{Frontiers Media S. A.}},
  series       = {{Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems}},
  title        = {{Does production diversity support dietary diversity? : Evidence from pastoral and agro-pastoral households in West Pokot County, Kenya}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1512272}},
  doi          = {{10.3389/fsufs.2025.1512272}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}