Special Paper No. 04 of 2023 on Analysis of Diet Diversity and Child Stunting in Households Practicing Smallholder Irrigation in Kenya

Abstract

Stunting can result from a combination of factors, but irrigated agriculture has been recognized as a potential solution to reducing undernutrition. This is because it has the potential to increase household income, provide consistent food production, and improve household diets. The study utilized data from the Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey (KIHBS) 2015-16, focusing on children aged 6 to 59 months from households practicing irrigated and non-irrigated agriculture. Through regression analysis and matching techniques, the study found that irrigation increased the chances of having a more diverse diet at the household level by 8.6%, and slightly lowered the incidence of stunting in children compared to non-irrigated households. However, the study also revealed low engagement of women in community nutrition programs, indicating that decision-making may not be in their favor. The study recommends intentional inclusion of nutrition objectives within national and county agriculture plans, policies, and irrigation strategies to improve nutritional outcomes. It also emphasizes the importance of women's engagement in irrigation interventions through gender mainstreaming, disseminating agriculture-related knowledge, and promoting nutrition education through community communication channels.