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Feeding India better

Highest growth in fat consumption is observed among the poorest 10% of the population.

India experienced euphoric economic growth, with an average 8.7% annual GDP growth, from 2005 to 2010. During the same period, per-capita income increased by 7.0% and poverty declined from 37.2% in 2004-05 to 29.2% in 2009-10. The poverty decline was more rapid in rural India in comparison to urban India. This gave the government a chance to exult and to claim inclusive growth. However, on the contrary, a report on consumption expenditure by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) has revealed that for 2009-10 the per capita calorie consumption (PCCC) declined to 1,973 kcal, compared to 2,033 kcal in 2004-05, and 2,152 kcal in 1993-94. This gap was wider in urban India, as PCCC declined from 2,156 kcal in 1999-2000 to 1,946 kcal in 2009-10, whereas in rural India it declined from 2,149 kcal in 1999-2000 to 2,020 kcal in 2009-10. This has produced a contradictory picture of inclusive growth in India.

Examining the major nutrition groups?calorie, protein and fat?by income category, calorie consumption declined in almost all the income groups of both the rural and urban population. Exceptions were the lowest 20% of rural and the lowest 10% of urban population, where it increased by 2.6% and 2.2%, respectively. Still, it is acutely lower at 1,617 kcal in rural and 1,544 kcal in urban India for the same income group, as against the levels of 2,400 kcal in rural and 2,100 kcal in urban areas required to maintain the calorie norm. The highest decline is observed for the top 10% of the urban population, where it has declined by 10%; for the same income group in the rural population, it has declined to 5.4%. The declining trend is also seen in protein consumption, which has dipped by 3.5% in rural and by 6% in urban India.

But the per capita consumption of fat has increased to 43g for 2009-10 from 41.5g for 2004-05?in rural areas it has increased by 8% and in urban areas by 0.8%. The highest growth in fat consumption is observed in the lowest 10% of the population. In this segment, it has increased to 18% in rural and 13% in urban India. But in the case of the upper-most 10% population, it has increased by merely 0.8% in rural areas and declined by 14% in urban areas.

Cereals are the main source of calorie intake in India, constituting around 60% of calorie consumption, though the share for the lower income group is more, while that for the higher income group is lower. Compared to 2004-05, the share of cereal consumption has now declined to 3.4% in rural areas and 1.1% in urban areas. This slight change in the share of cereal consumption has resulted in a major shift in calorie intake. There are two possible reasons for this. First, cereal is a direct and rich source of calorie intake in India. Even though the consumption of ?other food? items (rich sources of other nutrients, and less units of calorie) has increased, it does not ensure an increase in calorie intake. On the other hand, the ?other food? items (widely available as ?market-based ready-made products?) contain a high quantity of fat and a lower proportion of calories and proteins. This could also be an important reason for the decline in calorie consumption in India.

As the National Family Health Survey round-IV data is not available, it is hard to measure how this trend has impacted the population and what exactly is the status of undernourishment, malnourishment and obesity in India. Nonetheless, the trend could be evaluated using the theories of health economics. The theories say that an increase in income has a positive impact on the increase in consumption, both for developed and developing countries. In India, real expenditure has increased by 7% in rural area and by 12% in urban area in the last five years. Further, in the case of developing countries, an increase in income increases the consumption of ?market-based ready-made commodities?. This is mainly because such commodities were less accessible earlier. Also, this trend is less prominent in upper-income households, which have access to information and hence take precautionary measures to maintain their health.

Before concluding the article, one more aspect needs to be added to our discussion, the consideration of which may lower the per capita average calorie consumption further. For instance, NSS consumption expenditure survey collects data on milk, and it allocates 1,000 kcal of calorie, and 40g of protein to one litre of milk consumption. The allocation of calories and protein does not consider the variation in the quality of milk, though this varies by availability of milk at different market prices. Therefore, it does not matter whether milk and milk product consumption has increased. And we should adjust the allocation of calories and proteins through the market prices of the products. This fact is relevant in the case of other commodities too.

Our suggestion to strengthen the inclusive growth agenda is not only to ensure quality food, but also the availability of sufficient food. Several studies highlight the concept that availability of food by the company encourages employees to consume more with improved quality. So the government could encourage ?industrial feeding? by giving incentives to companies. A similar kind of integrated model could also be introduced in rural areas with the MGNREGA programme, where vulnerable households could get sufficient and improved quality food with work. Apart from this, the government should take initiatives to spread awareness about ?quality products? and the value of a complete, high-nutrition and timely diet. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India should develop stringent norms to regulate the food products market and ensure the quality of the contents.

The author is associated with the Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida

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First published on: 17-09-2012 at 02:55 IST
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