Paper short abstract:

This paper investigates the relationship between crops diversification and diets diversification though a political-economy analysis of the patterns of agrarian production and food consumption In rural district of Uzbekistan.

Paper long abstract:

Uzbekistan is one of the world leading producers and exporter of cotton. Its agricultural policy is based on a state-led procurement system for cotton export, grain self-sufficiency objectives and most recently crop diversification towards fruits and vegetables. This setting has so far allowed the government to access foreign currency from cotton sales, and create a sort of resilience from international volatility of food prices. However, lack of micro-nutrients in the diet is present, especially in rural areas, which suggests a monotonous diet and scarce availability of different food groups. The relationship between agricultural production and nutrition is very complex since it involves production patterns of availability, prices, knowledge and access to diversified diet. The research contributes to the "food for subsistence" versus "crop for cash" debate through a political-economy analysis. By studying the differentiations of farmers over land, assets, labour and market among different producers, this paper will shed lights on insightful dynamics of agrarian change in Central Asia and contribute to the literature on nutrition security and agricultural commercialization in transitional capitalism. In particular, it will be explored which are the differences in nutrition, labour relationship and socio economic conditions in the cotton based districts versus vegetables districts. Not least, the research will try to understand how food provision works among different levels of commercial farms and which are the patterns of accumulation and power relations among them.