Beyond the Bean: Analyzing Diversified Farming, Food Security, Dietary Diversity, and Gender in Nicaragua’s Smallholders Coffee Cooperatives
Publisher: Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
Author(s): Christopher M. Bacon, Maria Eugenia Flores Gomez, Vanessa Shin, Gabi Ballardo, Skyler Kriese, and Emma McCurry
Date: 2023
Topics: Gender, Renewable Resources
Countries: Nicaragua
Diversification is key for agroecological transformations, but little is known about how it relates to farmers’ dietary diversity and food sovereignty. Our team and coffee cooperative staff conducted a participatory action research mixed methods study, including 171 surveys and 50 interviews. Over 70% of the farmers reported self-initiated diversification activities. Statistical analysis showed a significant positive correlation between crop diversity and dietary diversity, while controlling for farm size and income.