Abstract
Most of the studies on seasonality in food supply and nutritional status have been carried out in areas characterized by extreme climatic conditions. This study was conducted in an area where the climate is favorable for grain cultivation. However, a large part of the population was found to face seasonal variations in food availability, most critically three to four months before the main harvest. Women lost about 3 percent of their weight in this period compared to the post harvest period. The nutritional status of preschool children declined in the lower socioeconomic group. These changes also coincided with a period of hard agricultural work, especially for women. The paper deals with factors affecting the duration of the maize stocks as well as strategies used when maize stocks are exhausted.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Biswas, M. R. (1979). Nutrition and agricultural development in Africa.International Journal of Environmental Studies 13(3): 207–217.
Chambers, R., Longhurst, R., and Pacey, A. (1981).Seasonal Dimensions to Rural Poverty. Frances Pinter Publ. Ltd., London.
Dewey, K. (1981). Nutritional consequences of the transformation from subsistence to commercial agriculture in Tabasco, Mexico.Human Ecology 9(2): 151–187.
FAO/WHO/UNU (1985). Energy and Protein Requirements. Technical Report Series 724, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Ferro Luzzi, A. (1990). Seasonal energy stress in marginally nourished rural women; Interpretation and integrated conclusions of a multicentre study in three developing countries.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 44(Suppl.) (1): 41–46.
de Garine, I., and Harrison, G. A. (1988).Coping with Uncertainty in Food Supply. Oxford Science Publications, Clarendon Press, Oxford, England.
Holmboe-Ottesen, G., and Wandel, M. (1991a). Men's contribution to the food and nutritional situation in the household: The case of Tanzania.Ecology of Food and Nutrition 26(1): 83–96.
Holmboe-Ottesen, G., and Wandel, M. (1991b). Wife, today I only had money for pombe. Gender and food: Women's bargaining power and agricultural change in a Tanzanian community. In Stø1en, K., and Vaa, M. (eds.),Gender and Change in Developing Countries. Norwegian University Press, Oslo.
Holmboe-Ottesen, G., Wandel, M., and Oshaug, A. (1989). Nutritional evaluation of an agricultural project in southern Sri Lanka.Food and Nutrition Bulletin 11(3): 47–56.
Jacobsen, O. (1978). Economic and geographical factors influencing child malnutrition in the southern highlands, Tanzania.GeoJoumal 2(4): 355–376.
Kumar, S. K. (1988). Effect of seasonal food shortage on agricultural production in Zambia.World Development 16(9): 1051–1063.
Lev, L. (1981). The effect of cash cropping on food consumption adequacy among the Meru of Northern Tanzania. M.Sc. thesis, Michigan State University.
Nabarro, D., Cassels, C., and Pant, M. (1989). Coping strategies of households in the hills of Nepal: Can development initiatives help?Institute of Development Studies Bulletin. 20(2): 68–74.
Pinstrup-Andersen, P. (1985). The impact of export-crop production on human nutrition. In Biswas, M., Pinstrup-Andersen, P. (eds.),Nutrition and Development. Oxford University Press.
Quinn, V., Chiligo, M., and Gittinger, J. P. (1990). Malnutrition, household income and food security in rural Malawi.Health Policy and Planning 5(2): 139–148.
Schofield, S. (1974). Seasonal factors affecting nutrition in different age groups and especially preschool children.Journal of Developmental Studies 11(1): 22–40.
Safilios-Rotschild, C. (1980). The Role of the Family: A Neglected Aspect of Poverty. In Implementing Programmes of Human Development, World Bank Staff Working Paper, No. 403, Washington, D.C.
Smith, D. M. (1979).Where the Grass is Greener. Penguin, Harmondsworth, London.
UNICEF-Government of Tanzania (1985).The Situation of Women and Children. UNICEF, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Wandel, M., and Holmboe-Ottesen, G. (1992). Child malnutrition and development processes in two Tanzanian villages.Health Policy and Planing 7(2): 123–134.
Wandel, M., Holmboe-Ottesen, G., and Manu, A. (1992). Seasonal work, energy intake and nutritional stress: A case study from Tanzania.Nutrition Research 12, 1–16.
WHO (1983).Measuring Change in Nutritional Status. Guidelines for Assessing the Nutritional Impact of Supplementary Feeding Programs for Vulnerable Groups. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wandel, M., Holmboe-Ottesen, G. Food availability and nutrition in a seasonal perspective: A study from the Rukwa region in Tanzania. Hum Ecol 20, 89–107 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00889697
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00889697