Impact of a Homestead Gardening Program on Household Food Security and Empowerment of Women in Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper assesses the additional benefits of a homestead gardening program designed to control vitamin A deficiency in Bangladesh. In February and March 2002, data were collected on the food security and social status of women from 2,160 households of active and former participants in the gardening program and from control groups in order to assess the impact and sustainability of the program. The proportions of active and former-participant households that gardened year-round were fivefold and threefold, respectively, higher than that of the control group (78% and 50% vs. 15%). In a three-month period, the households of active participants produced a median of 135 kg and consumed a median of 85 kg of vegetables, while the control households produced a median of 46 kg and consumed a median of 38 kg (p and consumed a median of 38 kg (p and consumed a median of 38 kg (< .001). About 64% of the active-participant households generated a median garden income of 347 taka (US$1 = 51 taka), which was spent mainly on food, and 25% of the control households generated 200 taka in the same period (p generated 200 taka in the same period (p generated 200 taka in the same period (< .001). The garden production and income levels of formerly participating households three years after withdrawal of program support were much higher than those of the control households, illustrating the sustainability of the program and its ability to increase household food security. Significantly more women in active-and former-participant households than in control households perceived that they had increased their economic contribution to their households since the time the program was launched in their subdistricts (> 85% vs. 52%). Similar results were found for the level of influence gained by women on household decision-making. These results highlight the multiple benefits that homestead gardening programs can bring and demonstrate that these benefits should be considered when selecting nutritional and development approaches targeting poor households.

Nutrition-sensitive interventions and programmes: how can they help to accelerate progress in improving maternal and child nutrition?

“…Assessments of home stead food production systems in Bangladesh and Nepal report positive eff ects on women's income, control over resources, or infl uence in decision making on a range of issues. 53,[61][62][63] In Kenya, a project promoting orange sweet potato production among women farmers showed that women gained control over selling the product, whereas men maintained control over income. 64 Livestock and dairy projects in Kenya and Bangladesh report increases in women's income or infl uence in decision making, 65,66 whereas in India, men's but not women's income improved as a result of a dairy project.…”

Improving diets with wild and cultivated biodiversity from across the landscape

“…Dietary outcomes are probably the more appropriate outcome in which to expect to see an impact (ISPC 2014). Some studies suggest that, in some cases, a lack of effect is due to the fact that garden produce may replace other nutritious foods in the diet (Bushamuka et al 2005) or that the degree of women's control of income earned can also impact success (Brun et al 1989).…”

The Unattainable Trifecta of Urban Agriculture

“…In addition, for the subset of UA composed of home and community gardening, a wide body of observational studies report health benefits, such as increasing food security (Bushamuka et al, 2005;Stroink & Nelson, 2009), fruit and vegetable intake (Alaimo, Packnett, Miles, & Kruger, 2008;Armstrong, 2000;Litt, Soobader, Turbin, Hale, Buchenau, & Marshall, 2011;Twiss, Dickinson, Duma, Kleinman, Paulsen, & Rilveria, 2003), and physical activity (Armstrong, 2000;Draper & Freedman, 2010;Park, Shoemaker, & Haub, 2009), while reducing stress (Hawkins, Thirlaway, Backx, & Clayton, 2011;Van Den Berg & Custers, 2011). Building social capital is another documented community and community health-related benefit of gardening (Alaimo, Reischl, & Allen, 2010;Firth, Maye, & Pearson, 2011;Kingsley & Townsend, 2006).…”