Description

The Indian Journal of Economics and Development
Year : 2018, Volume : 14, Issue : 3
First page : ( 521) Last page : ( 527)
Print ISSN : 2277-5412. Online ISSN : 2322-0430.
Article DOI : 10.5958/2322-0430.2018.00165.8

Food expenditure profile and North-South divide: An analysis

Santhosh R.
Department of Economics, University College, Thiruvananthapuram-695 034 (Kerala) Email: santhoshreco@gmail.com

JELCodes I14, I15, I32, O47, Q18.

Online published on 27 September, 2018.

Abstract

A perusal of Consumer Expenditure Survey data of National Sample Survey Organisation for the period 1993–94 to 2011–2012 exhibited a noticeable north-south divide in the consumption pattern on Food, its diversity and calorie intake profile of India. This highlights the underlying reason for the recent controversy that crept up after the recent ban on cattle trade for slaughtering by the Union government which was vehemently opposed by certain Southern States and backed up by some Northern States. Northern States due to skewed expenditure pattern were in favour of milk products and its derivatives, cereals and vegetables. The intake of egg, meat and fish and allied animal protein in their diet was meagre. In contrast, the Southern States stand peak in their protein intake from animal and allied nutrients reducing their intake from milk and its products and cereals. It was not surprising that the Southern States showed stiff resistance for the ban on cattle slaughtering which turns out to be an issue of food security and for the north it was a matter of sustainability. In terms of food diversity, Southern States were far ahead of their northern counterparts. There was a trend of convergence in food diversity among the north and south and also rural and urban sectors of India.

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Keywords

Calorie intake, expenditure on food, food diversity, inequality, north-south divide.