Household Farm Production Diversity and Micronutrient Intake: Where Are the Linkages? Panel Data Evidence from Uganda
, Shamim Nalunga 2, Yves Didier Umwungerimwiza 3, Lydia Nazziwa 2 and Stanley Peter Ddungu 2Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This is an interesting study based on panel regression models. It offers a lot of information valuable for us to understand the relationship between farm production diversity and household micronutrient intake. The manuscript is clearly written and sufficiently referenced. After polishing the English language and improving some specific aspects as follows, the paper will be ready for publication.
- Provide more quantitative information in the abstract.
- Figure 1: Do the colors of the boxes and arrows have special meanings? Why different colors are used? Please explain the differences.
- Section 2.1, Data: Please specify the criteria for data selection. How were bad data filtered?
- Add information about the statistical methods used for data analysis. It can be provided as an appendix or a new subsection.
- Make the conclusions more concise (< 250 words in one paragraph).
Author Response
Point 1: Provide more quantitative information in the abstract.
Response 1: We provide this quantitative information by adding quantities of the associated effects in the abstract – between lines 25 – 30. We also update a bit of details for these quantities in the results sections in lines between 94 and 207
Point 2: Figure 1: Do the colors of the boxes and arrows have special meanings? Why different colors are used? Please explain the differences.
Response 2: The colors do not necessarily mean so much but were intended to show differences between consumption pathways. However, these are not standard colours for these pathways, so we remove the colours to avoid potential confusion. We effect these changes on line 86.
Point 3: Section 2.1, Data: Please specify the criteria for data selection. How were bad data filtered?
Response 3: In lines 109 to 114. We elaborate on the criteria used to select the data used for the study and how unwanted data was filtered.
Point 4: Add information about the statistical methods used for data analysis. It can be provided as an appendix or a new subsection.
Response 4: We add this information that we though were missing in this section. First in lines 109 to 114, THEN between lines 128 to 130 as indeed information on descriptive analysis had been left out, THEN lines 153 to 155, THEN lines 162 to 163, and in lines 164 to 165, clearly state that the details of this analytical methodology are presented in Appendix D, which is also included in this paper.
Point 5: Make the conclusions more concise (< 250 words in one paragraph).
Response 5: We sharpen the conclusions now to under 250 words – see lines 236 to 239.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
In the manuscript the authors investigated associations of farm production diversity with regards to the energy and micronutrient intake among smallholder farmers. The manuscript is interesting. However, I suggest some small changes:
- Please describe in the Materials and Methods all statistical analysis used.
- All abbreviations used in tables should be defined in the table notes.
- Please correct manuscript editing as required by the journal.
Author Response
Point 1: Please describe in the Materials and Methods all statistical analysis used.
Response 1: We describe all the materials and methods used in statistical analysis. For instance, we talk about the software used, STATA SE 16, and how we used it; Then also clearly define the descriptive strategy used to analyse data descriptively – unfortunately we had overlooked this one and not included it originally. Finally, we elaborate on definitions of variables used in equations 2 and 3, especially the variables that were similar to those in equation 1, and why these had not been redefined but state clearly that these are the same variables and we maintain their alphabetical nomenclature. We also elaborate that in appendix D, is where we have the statistical methodology for analysing the data using simultaneous equations. These changes have been effected in lines 109 to 114; 128 to 130; 153 to 155; 162 to 163, and 164 to 165.
Point 2: All abbreviations used in tables should be defined in the table notes.
Response 2: We accordingly do this in lines 175; 186; 199 to 201; 222 to 223; 229 to 230; 367 to 368; 372 to 373; 379 to 380; 419 to 420; 424 to 425; 429 to 430 and 434 to 436
Point 3: Please correct manuscript editing as required by the journal.
Response 3: Generally, we review the manuscript and ensure we adhered to journal guidelines for instance those of referencing, using figures or Tables, using a journal template etc. We would however be delighted to rectify any other specific journal guidelines that we may have not observed unknowingly. We also ensure we use easy concise and proper English language in all our sentences, that we make short for easy understanding.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
