This paper contrasts two Ugandan cropping systems, a banana-based (Musa AAA) and a grain-based (Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor), and focuses on the potential of each to provide food in sufficient quantity to meet household nutritional requirements. The objectives of this study were to estimate the amount of energy, protein, vitamin A, Ca, Fe and Zn furnished by these two systems; and to model cropping strategies capable of improving nutritional output given the same land area and location. Results show that both systems currently fail to satisfy a range of nutritional needs with Zn and Ca deficits being the most extreme. Modifications in cropping strategies explored through modeling showed that improved nutrition in both systems was possible given the same resource base. Improved nutrition in the banana-cropping system requires major changes in the allocation of land: e.g., a two-thirds reduction in the proportion of land devoted to banana. Adequate nutrition given the same resource base would require the incorporation of several species (e.g. Amaranthus lividus and Glycine max), which though present are uncommon. Though we suggest changes in extant cropping systems, this paper acknowledges that such changes would occur in the context of practices embedded in cultural norms.
