Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
assessing the farming practices adopted by the households. Anthropometric
data were analysed using the Nutrition Package (EpiInfo, 2000). Those
children with
2to
<
1 standard deviations were classified as mildly
malnourished, those with
3to
<
2 standard deviations were designated
moderately malnourished, while those below
3 standard deviations were
considered severely malnourished. Anthropometric measurements were
compared with the US National Centre for Health Statistic/World Health
Organization (NCHS/WHO) international reference standards.
Household food consumption was determined by assessing the intake of
calories, protein, vitamin A and iron. The nutrient intake data were analysed
using computer software (Nutrisurvey, 2004). Dietary diversity was assessed
by totalling the number of food groups consumed in the households for the
past 24 hours. These groups are starch (cereals and non-cereals), fresh and dry
legumes and nuts, vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat, fish and milk. Households
were classified as follows: those consuming 1-3 groups were considered low
diversity, those consuming 4-6 groups were medium, while those consuming
7-9 were considered the high-diversity group. The level of agricultural and
nutrition knowledge and the attitudes of the farmers was assessed by totalling
the scores in each household.
Transcription was done using tape-recorders to determine the problems
encountered in crop and small livestock production and to capture the
farmers' attitudes towards urban agriculture (UA). The Pearson product
moment (r) established relationships between farming practices and household
food security; it tested the hypotheses at 0.05 significant levels. The t-test was
used to evaluate the intervention project by comparing intakes of calories,
protein, vitamin A, iron and levels of nutrition knowledge both before and
after the intervention at 0.05 significance levels. Cross-tabulation was used to
determine the changes in occupations of respondents, crop diversity, nutrition
knowledge and dietary diversity in the households after intervention. The
results are presented in tables and graphs below.
Research findings
Knowledge and attitudes
The farmers' knowledge, attitudes and skills depended upon the training they
received. Knowledge in certain production techniques such as crop protection
and rotation led to high levels of production (Mougeot, 2000). The project
participants were offered agricultural and nutrition knowledge.
Agricultural knowledge
The results of the baseline survey revealed that none of the 300 respondents
had received any kind of organized agricultural training. Because of their lack
of knowledge, a training programme on organic farming was developed
covering soil preparation, crop management, harvesting techniques and post-
harvest handling. Increases in agricultural knowledge was observed through
improved farming practices.
