Child diet diversity and irrigation expansion in the global south – Nature

Report on the Impact of Irrigation Expansion on Child Diet Diversity in the Global South

Introduction

Irrigation expansion has been widely promoted as a strategy to enhance global nutrition and health by boosting food production and increasing income. However, the effects of irrigation on the health and nutrition of local communities remain unclear and may vary significantly depending on the beneficiaries and contextual factors. This report examines the relationship between irrigation expansion and child diet diversity, a critical indicator of micronutrient intake and child development, across rural communities in the global south.

Methodology

The study combined georeferenced survey data from 9,144 rural communities, encompassing 70,817 households across 26 countries in the global south, with data on global irrigation infrastructure changes. The analysis focused on assessing local changes in child diet diversity in relation to irrigation expansion.

Key Findings

1. Positive Association Between Irrigation and Child Diet Diversity
   • Irrigation expansion is linked to improvements in child diet diversity, indicating enhanced micronutrient intake and development.
   • Significant regional differences were observed in the magnitude of these benefits.
2. Regional Variations and Water Resource Constraints
   • Benefits of irrigation on child diet diversity were concentrated in regions lacking sufficient water resources to support irrigation.
   • This suggests a trade-off between dietary improvements and increased water stress in these areas.
3. Crop Production Patterns in Irrigated Areas
   • In areas with adequate water resources, irrigation tends to favor the production of cash crops and export-oriented food items.
   • These areas showed weaker associations between irrigation and improvements in local child diets.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The findings of this study have important implications for several SDGs, emphasizing the need for integrated and sustainable approaches to irrigation expansion:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – Irrigation expansion can contribute to improved food security and nutrition by enhancing child diet diversity, a key factor in combating malnutrition.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Improved micronutrient intake through diversified diets supports better child health and development outcomes.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – The trade-offs identified between irrigation benefits and water stress highlight the necessity of sustainable water management to prevent resource depletion.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The tendency towards cash crop production in water-sufficient areas calls for balanced agricultural practices that support local nutrition and economic goals.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – Sustainable irrigation planning must consider environmental impacts to preserve water resources and ecosystem health.

Recommendations

To align irrigation expansion with sustainable development and nutrition-sensitive outcomes, the following strategies are recommended:

• Integrate nutrition-sensitive approaches into irrigation planning to maximize benefits for child diet diversity and local health.
• Prioritize sustainable water resource management to mitigate water stress, particularly in regions with limited water availability.
• Encourage diversified crop production that balances cash crops with nutrient-rich food crops to support local dietary needs.
• Promote policies and investments that ensure equitable distribution of irrigation benefits among rural communities.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that irrigation expansion is generally associated with improvements in child diet diversity in rural communities of the global south. However, the outcomes are influenced by regional water availability and agricultural practices. Sustainable and nutrition-sensitive irrigation development is essential to achieve multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including ending hunger, promoting health, and ensuring sustainable water use.

Data and Code Availability

• All data used in this study are publicly available via Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6740334.
• All code used in the study is publicly available on GitHub at https://github.com/piyushm9/IrrigationNutrition.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article discusses irrigation expansion to improve food production and child diet diversity, directly relating to ending hunger and improving nutrition.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Improvement in child diet diversity and micronutrient intake impacts child health and development.
3. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article highlights water stress and the sustainability of irrigation, indicating the importance of sustainable water management.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Discussion on cash crops and export-oriented food production relates to sustainable consumption and production patterns.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Water resource management and agricultural practices impact ecosystems and land sustainability.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
   • Target 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, including through sustainable food production systems.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.
   • Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment, and promote mental health and well-being (implied through nutrition improvements).
3. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
   • Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.3: Halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains.
   • Target 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Child Diet Diversity Score (IDDS)
   • Used as a key indicator of micronutrient intake and child development, measuring dietary improvements.
   • Referenced in the article as “child diet diversity” and linked to irrigation expansion.
2. Irrigation Infrastructure Coverage
   • Georeferenced data on irrigation expansion is used to assess changes in agricultural practices and access to irrigation.
3. Water Stress Status
   • Water resource sufficiency or stress is used to evaluate sustainability and trade-offs in irrigation benefits.
4. Crop Production Characteristics
   • Proportion of cash crops versus food crops produced in irrigated areas, indicating impacts on local diets and export orientation.
5. Micronutrient Intake and Child Development Indicators
   • Implied through the use of diet diversity as a proxy for nutritional status and child health outcomes.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nature.com