Browsing by Author "Kisebe Lillian"

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    Influence of Agricultural Commercialization on Micronutrient Nutrition among rural households in Omoro and Otuke Districts of Northern Uganda
    (Gulu University, 2023-12-30) Kisebe Lillian
    Micro-nutrient deficiencies are a serious nutritional challenge among households in Otuke and Omoro districts of northern Uganda, majority of whom depend on farming for food and income. Agricultural commercialization (AC) is a strategy being promoted to address rural poverty and food and nutrition insecurity in localities such as Omoro and Otuke districts. However limited information exists on how AC influences rural household micronutrient nutrition in such localities. Making use of 400 randomly selected households, this study examined the influence of AC on micronutrient nutrition in Omoro and Otuke districts. Specifically, the study assessed the factors that influence AC and the influence of agricultural commercialization on production and consumption of vitamin A, iron and folate. Using household commercialization index as a measure of agricultural commercialization, results showed that the level of AC in the study area was 61% with Omoro having 63% while Otuke had 54%. Tobit regression analysis showed that gender of the household head (p<0.023), primary food source (p<0.01), credit availability (p<0.01), membership in farmer groups (p<0.05), and methods of land tillage (p<0.001) significantly influenced AC. Two-stage least square regression showed that AC affected the production of iron (p<0.01), folate (p<0.01), and folate consumption (p<0.01). This study has demonstrated that AC has the potential to enhance production and consumption of micro-nutrients of public health concern. Based on these findings, development of strategies and policies that promote AC to address rural household micronutrient intake should take into account the agricultural commercialization factors identified and how commercialization influences production and consumption of micronutrients.