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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Cropping system and household food security: evidence from three West African countries
Author:Longhurst, Richard
Year:1985
Periodical:Food and Nutrition
Volume:11
Issue:2
Pages:10-16
Language:English
Geographic terms:Sierra Leone
Gambia
Nigeria
Subjects:women's work
food crops
Abstract:This article looks at three countries in West Africa - Sierra Leone, the Gambia and Nigeria, which share a marked seasonality, but grow different staple crops. Also, they diverge culturally regarding male and female roles and labour allocation patterns. However, similar elements of cropping strategies van be identified in all three countries: mixed cropping is practised everywhere, reducing the risk of total crop faillure. In all three countries, women carry a large responsibility in ensuring household food security. Everywhere, even in northern Nigeria where seclusion forbids women to work in the fields they cultivate a small garden plot intensively to bring some crops to an early harvest. In Sierra Leone and The Gambia they play equal roles with men in producing food on the family farm. Ref.
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