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Abstract
Many developing countries are experiencing a food system transformation with a
rapid growth of supermarkets. Research has shown that smallholder farmers can benefit from
supplying supermarkets in terms of higher productivity and income. Here, we analyze impacts on
farm household nutrition. Building on data from vegetable farmers in Kenya, we show that
participation in supermarket channels has sizeable positive effects: calorie, vitamin A, iron, and
zinc consumption are all increased by 15% or more. We also analyze impact pathways, using
simultaneous equation models. Supermarket-supplying households have higher incomes, a
higher share of land under vegetables, and a higher likelihood of male control of revenues.
Furthermore, income and the share of land under vegetables have positive impacts, while male
control of revenues has negative impacts on dietary quality. The total nutrition effects of
supermarket participation could be even more positive if women were able to keep their control
over farm revenues in the process of commercialization. The methods developed and used may
also be useful for other impact studies to better understand agriculture-nutrition linkages.