Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/307691 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
ZEF Discussion Papers on Development Policy No. 354
Publisher: 
University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF), Bonn
Abstract: 
Rice-aquaculture is promoted in many countries as a system that could simultaneously improve land and water productivity and household diets and nutrition. However, studies evaluating the effects of rice-aquaculture adoption on household diets do not yet exist. Here, we address this research gap, using data from a survey of 720 households in rural Bangladesh and different statistical techniques to control for possible selection bias. Contrary to expectations, our data suggest that adopting rice-aquaculture is associated with a decrease in household dietary quality, especially during the agricultural lean season. Households with young household heads, low education levels, and small landholdings are over-proportionally affected. We also analyze possible mechanisms of these unexpected negative diet effects. Households adopting rice-aquaculture spend much more time on farming, leaving less time for cooking, other domestic tasks, and certain off-farm activities. Adopters have lower crop and livestock production diversity, lower income from forest extraction activities, and higher debts than non-adopters. Our findings suggest that policies to promote the adoption of rice-aquaculture should consider the broader effects on household livelihoods and provide sufficient support in order to avoid undesirable social outcomes.
Subjects: 
rice-aquaculture
dietary diversity
household time allocation
farm production diversity
JEL: 
Q10
R29
Q18
E23
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.