Consumption Pattern and Nutritional Intake of Pulses by Segregated Income Groups in India

Abstract

The changes in consumption pattern of different pulses and consequently in nutrient intake arising due to price and income changes at household level have been analysed using the consumer expenditure survey data for the year 2011-12. The share of expenditure on red gram in the total food expenditure has been found higher as compared to other pulses, irrespective of the income levels of households. The consumption of most of pulses has been observed more responsive to changes in the income of all the income households. Income elasticity for most of the pulse commodities were positive. The price elasticities for most pulses have been observed to be high, indicating high responsiveness to small changes in their own prices. Strong substitutability has been observed between red gram with masur and peas; green gram with masur and peas in low-income households, and between red gram and peas; and green gram and peas in middleincome households. The intake of protein and energy through the consumption of pulses has been found lower in middle and high income households vis-à-vis low-income households. In the case of income elasticity of nutrients, all nutrients were income elastic. The study has concluded that an increase in prices of pulses would result in reduced intake of both protein and fat in low, middle and high income households. Therefore, there is a need to increase the production and availability of pulses by adopting innovative measures to ensure food and nutritional security in the country.

Modeling the potential impacts of improved monthly income on child stunting in India: a subnational geospatial perspective

“…In separate models, purchases of milk and pulses increased across India with an INR 500 increase in income. Earlier studies from India have shown that the consumption of pulses is responsive to change in income of households 35. Income doubling has been shown to increase the consumption of non-staple foods, including non-vegetarian foods by about 110% 36.…”

“…Additionally, this correlation could vary geographically, thus introducing additional variability in the estimates of stunting reduction. How well a household wealth index serves as a proxy for income is not well understood,35 and there are concerns that, given alternative demands for cash expenditure such as housing and education, cash transfers may not be spent on nutrient-rich foods or on supporting more healthy diets.…”

Factors influencing household pulse consumption in India: A multilevel model analysis

“…Currently, India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world, but consumption exceeds production and is therefore supported by imports. In 2014–15, India produced 17.4 million tonnes of pulses and consumed 22.7 million tonnes, with imports amounting to 4.6 million tonnes ( Umanath et al, 2016 ). The gap between demand and domestic supply of pulses is expected to widen over time.…”

Household Food Insecurity and the Nutritional Status of Children Aged 6–59 Months: Insights from Rural Indigenous Garo Tribes of Meghalaya, India

“…Studies have proved that the improvement in agricultural productivity has positive effect on reduction in rural poverty and economic disadvantage of a region (Chand and Srivastava, 2016). Studies have also established that increase in the per capita income of the households increases the intake of all nutrients by the households (Umanath et al,2015). Thus improvement in agricultural productivity under mountain specificities of Garo Hills should be taken on priority basis.…”