Agricultural contribution to the nutritional status of children: A comparative study of annual crop, agroforestry, and mixed-farming type in Buol, Indonesia

Abstract

This study investigated the agriculture contribution to the nutritional status of children from farming families by comparing situation of the annual crop with agroforestry and mixed farming systems. A survey was conducted from December 2015 to January 2016 in Buol, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Household socioeconomic and agricultural data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The dietary intake information of the oldest under-five children was gathered using a 24-hour recall of food intake, and the results were converted into food groups and nutrient contents. Focus group discussions among male and female farmers were performed to complement the survey's results. The prevalence of respiratory infection and diarrhea in children in the last 2 weeks was assessed. Furthermore, the weight and height of the children were measured. In total, 200 female/male farmers and their under-five children from annual food crop (n = 79), agroforestry (n = 53), and mixed (n = 68) farming systems were recruited. A very high prevalence of stunted children (above 30%) was recorded in all the groups, whereas the proportion of wasted children was above 5%. The children's nutritional status indicated that an immediate intervention was needed to prevent further deterioration. The results of the binary logistic regression revealed that yearly food expenditure per capita was negatively and significantly correlated with the risk of being stunted (p = 0.047), whereas nonbreastfed children had a 2.9-fold higher risk of wasting at the time of the survey (p = 0.014). Of all the farmer groups, mixed farming farmers tended to benefit the most from having high cash revenue and food production, leading to a slightly better nutritional status compared to farmers managing annual crop production or agroforestry systems only. Notably, actions need to be undertaken to improve the resilience of all smallholders as well as promote the provision and spending on nutrient-dense food for children in all the farmer groups.