Seasonal Energy Deficiency of Rural Rice Farmers in Madagascar

This study examines the effect of seasonality by utilizing original individual, household level energy intake panel dataset of three rounds of surveys from rural lowland farmers in the Central Highlands in Madagascar. Household’s food consumption revealed by 24-hour recall was converted to energy intake per person using adult male equivalent measure. We employed a fixed effects model and found that seasonally significantly affects negatively on energy intake and energy sufficiency rate during lean season. In lean season, farmers tend to substitute roots and tubers for rice, and they are more likely to depend on purchased food.

本研究利用来自马达加斯加中央高地农村低地农民三轮调查的原始个人及家庭层面能量摄入面板数据集（panel dataset），考察季节性的影响。通过24小时回忆法（24-hour recall）获取的家庭食物消费量，采用成年男性当量计量方法（adult male equivalent measure）转换为每人能量摄入量。我们采用固定效应模型（fixed effects model），发现季节性对淡季（lean season）期间的能量摄入及能量充足率存在显著负面影响。在淡季，农民倾向于用块根块茎类作物替代大米，且更可能依赖购买的食物。