How off-farm employment shapes women’s dietary quality: Evidence from rural Africa

Off-farm employment is increasingly important for rural households in Africa. While previous research has analyzed welfare implications of off-farm activities at a household level, little attention has been given to potential nutritional benefits of individual household members, particularly women. Using survey data from rural Tanzania and Zambia, we examine the relationship between female off-farm employment and women’s dietary quality. We also explore potential underlying mechanisms such as income, bargaining power, and time allocation. Our findings show that female off-farm employment is positively associated with improved dietary diversity. Women engaged in off-farm work consume more meat, fish, and vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables, suggesting improved intake of critical micro-nutrients. Pathway analysis suggests that the positive association between off-farm employment on dietary diversity is mainly driven by increased household income and enhanced bargaining power of women. The results remain robust across several sensitivity checks, indicating that female labor force participation can improve women’s nutrition in rural areas of developing countries.