Comparison of Two Pathways Linking Agriculture to Child Health: Dietary Diversity and Micronutrient Intake in the Malagasy Highlands

Abstract

Rising micronutrient deficiencies threaten the well-being of preschool-aged children, as is the case for disadvantaged farmers in Madagascar. However, effective interventions to improve their nutritional status are still unknown. This study investigates the disjointed link between agriculture – food/nutrition security and food/nutrition security - nutritional status through a dual approach. Using a panel dataset, our result supports the link between production diversity – dietary diversity, and dietary diversity - improvement in children's wasting. Importantly, the finding highlights an association of own production of pulse with energy/micronutrient intake and that of energy/zinc intake with the reduction of undernourished and stunted child, respectively.