Agricultural Production and the Nutritional Status of Family Members in Tanzania

Abstract

The paper studies the effect of crop output value and livestock ownership on the nutrition of children, adolescents and adults in agricultural households. Using anthropometric data to measure nutritional status, this paper finds that both crop values and large livestock ownership have positive and significant effects on the nutrition of children under age 10. The effects persist after controlling for household socioeconomic status. Higher crop values and ownership of livestock are linked to better long-term indicators of nutrition (height-for-age) among the youngest children and better short-term indicators (BMI-for-age and weight-for-age) among older children. The effects also vary between boys and girls.