It was highlighted by Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) in paper titled "Changes in India's Food Consumption and Policy Implications: A Comprehensive Analysis of Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23 and 2011-12”.
Other Key Highlights
- Regional Variations: Household spending has increased across India, though the extent varies by state and region. E.g. West Bengal saw a 151% rise and Tamil Nadu 214%, between 2011-12 and 2022-23.
- Rural vs. Urban Spending: Consumption expenditure growth for rural households (164%) was higher than that for urban households (146%).
- Nutrients and Dietary Diversity: Shift from cereal-based consumption towards a diet that includes fruits, milk & milk products, eggs, fish & meat.
- Processed Foods: Household spending on served and packaged processed foods has increased across all income groups. But it’s most noticeable among top 20% of households and is significantly higher in urban areas.
Policy Implications due to changing consumption patterns
- Government should focus on policies promoting production of diverse food items, mainly fruits, vegetables, and animal-source foods etc.
- Policy addressing micronutrient deficiency must be well-targeted due to variation in micronutrient intake across region.
- Agricultural policies should focus beyond cereals, as their consumption is dropping. Support measures like MSP, which target cereals, will only have limited benefits for farmers.