1. AN UNEXPECTED PARADOX: THE TWO-DECADE-LONG DECLINE IN  NUTRITION UNDER ZIMBABWE’S LAND REFORM PROGRAM

2. The Evolution of Nutritional Outcomes: HAZ for 1984-2011

3. Distribution of households by nutritional category, 1997 & 2001
Children’s z-scores
Symptomatic
(1)
Asymptomatic
(0)
Totals
Adults’ BMIs
(per cent (n))
Symptomatic (1)
16.0 (57)
4.2 (15)
20.2 (72)
Asymptomatic (0)
48.5 (173)
31.4 (112)
79.8 (285)
64.4 (230)
35.6 (127)
100.0 (357)
2001
16.2 (48)
5.7 (17)
22.0 (65)
43.3 (131)
33.8 (100)
78.0 (231)
60.5 (179)
39.5 (117)
100.0 (296)

4. - - - - - Agriculture-related indicators Area cropped
An increase in [...] has the
indicated effect on nutritional
status
Nutritional outcomes
of adults
of children
Agriculture-related indicators
Area cropped
Area planted to cash crops
Cash‑food crop area ratio
Market value of crops harvested
Total crop revenue -
Livestock-related indicators
Market value of livestock
Revenue from livestock
products & services
Revenue from sale of animals +
Consumption-related indicators
Purchases of grain or maize meal
Foodstuffs in storage
Amount of grain in storage
Amount of legumes in storage
Total food purchases + -
Tenurial regime and agro-ecology
Live in a resettlement area
Live in a communal area
Live in NR 2
Live in NR 3
Live in NR 4 - +
Income-related indicators
Remittances
Income from nonagricultural sources
Total household income
Female-controlled income - +
Health-related indicators
Any illness in family in previous month
Serious adult illness in previous month -

5. Findings:
Panel data & national surveys confirm a long-term secular decline in nutritional status
The ‘norm’ in rural Zimbabwe is a household with well-nourished adults & at least one undernourished child
There are multiple strong (& sometimes counterintuitive) correlates between socioeconomic variables & child, adult & household nutritional status

6. Findings:
There are strong indications that worsening nutritional outcomes are not generally distributed but rather reflect wider underlying welfare disparities
There is no unambiguous evidence for a link between nutritional outcomes & factors that may predispose to environmental enteropathy
Land reform is not a panacea for enhancing rural welfare nor for higher agricultural productivity that leads to improved nutrition
-o0o-