Dietary shifts in agrarian households: Population-based evidence from off-farm work in Ghana

Abstract

This study examines the association between income from off-farm work and nutritional outcomes in Ghanaian agrarian households, analyzing data from the Ghana Living Standards Surveys of 2005/06, 2012/13, and 2016/17. Findings from 24,550 observations reveal that off-farm work is associated with increased intake of protein, fat, essential minerals, and vitamin availability but decreased intake of dietary fiber and carbohydrates. Households engaged in both nonfarm business and wage employment show dietary shifts over time.