Diversified food system strategies can improve food composition and income sources for women oyster harvesting communities dependent on seasonal fishery activities. This study focused on women shellfishers in Densu Estuary, Narkwa Lagoon, and Whin Estuary in Ghana and in Tanbi, Bulock, and Allahein estuaries in The Gambia, and to understand the status and opportunities for increasing the use of biodiversity to meet seasonal food and dietary needs. 

Research activities included site scoping assessments, 21 focus group discussions in Ghana (5) and The Gambia (16) and 356 random household interviews in Ghana (211) and The Gambia (145). In addition, data validation and feedback discussion meetings were conducted with communities across the six study sites. Overall, assembled data covered household livelihood characteristics, food production, food types, seasonality and expenditure attributes, tree planting, nurseries, species diversity and management, local food portfolios, and oyster and fisheries resource use challenges. 

Findings revealed key challenges cited as hindrances to meeting environmental and dietary needs by communities. There are food seasonality challenges, narrow food choice options, and inadequate credit facilities, market infrastructure, knowledge, and local capacity limiting fisheries activities. Data analysis revealed that communities are reliant on starchy staple crops, pulses, vegetables, and fruits for nutrition. Immediate nutrition food portfolios developed together with communities showed tree and crop species and their possible contribution for food and nutritional needs from local production systems. April and July were mapped as peak for food insecurity in Ghana, while in The Gambia peak food insecurity was between June and September. The study therefore recommends establishment of a more diversified food system that includes trees to improve diets and income, and contextualisation of the community needs across the sites based on their locally available biodiversity resources. 

Author(s)

Carsan, S., McMullin, S., Obiri, B., Duguma, L., Guuroh, R., Bah, A., Orero, L., Muthee, K.

Publisher / Institution

World Agroforestry (ICRAF),Nairobi, Kenya and Coastal Resources Center, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA.

Date published

Aug 01, 2022