SHIFT TO NONTRADITIONAL GRAINS IN THE DIETS OF EAST AND WEST-AFRICA -ROLE OF WOMENS OPPORTUNITY COST OF TIME

In sub-Saharan Africa there has been a shift over the past 20 years in consumption patterns from traditional coarse grains to non-traditiona l grains, mainly wheat and rice. This article examines the aggregate l evel trends in production and consumption of coarse grains and non-tra ditional grains. Household level data sets from urban and rural Burkin a Faso and from Southwestern Kenya are used to identify the determinan ts of shifting consumption patterns. Results from the two countries su ggest that the shift to rice in urban Burkina Faso and wheat in the fo rm of bread in rural Kenya is related to the extent of women working o utside the home. Results also suggest that women level factors are mor e important than household income alone in explaining the transition i n consumption patterns.