Tropentag, September 20 - 22, 2017 in Bonn "Future Agriculture: Social-ecological transitions and bio-cultural shifts"

Can Livestock Production Contribute to Consumption of Animal Food Sources? A Case of Rural Tanzania

¹Sokoine University of Tanzania, Food Techn. Nutrition and Consumer Sci., Tanzania
²Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
³University of Hohenheim, Inst. of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, Germany

Abstract

Inadequate consumption of animal source foods is a common problem in developing countries, including Tanzania. It is linked with persistence of protein and energy malnutrition in the country. This study examined the extent of livestock production and consumption of animal source foods by rural households of Dodoma and Morogoro region, Tanzania. A cross-sectional survey involved 663 households. A questionnaire tool and measurement of food intake were administered to mothers/caregivers in the households. Interviews and focus group discussions were applied to study livestock production and consumption. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20 and Microsoft Excel version 10. Results indicated that cattle were the most important species, kept by the majority of households in Dodoma region while in Morogoro chickens were kept by majority of households. The study revealed a mismatch between livestock production and consumption in both regions. On average more than half (52.4%) of the surveyed households owned livestock, however this was not reflected in consumption of animal source foods. The intake of diets rich in animal sources was low in terms of frequency and quantity for the entire sample. Only 4% consumed milk and its products, 10% consumed meat and 2% consumed eggs. However, of those few who generated and consumed animal products, the dietary diversity was significantly higher compared to their counter parts (P= 0.02). Focus group discussion revealed that most households kept livestock as a copying strategy to pay for school fees, medical fees and other necessary household expenditures. Inadequate nutrition knowledge on the importance of including animal source food into the meal, poor livestock keeping practices and lack of diversified agriculture production were found to be among the constraints of consumption of animal source foods. Therefore, empowering rural household members with appropriate knowledge and skills concerning adequate production and consumption of animal source foods will be a key for achieving a good nutrition and health status of rural households
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Keywords: Animal source foods, consumption, livestock, production

Contact Address: Nyamizi Bundala, Sokoine University of Tanzania, Food Techn. Nutrition and Consumer Sci., SUA main campus, Morogoro, Tanzania, e-mail: nyamizi80yahoo.com