Food habits are changing. Farms must, too, Pg17

Key Highlights:

• India's food consumption patterns are shifting, with a decline in cereal consumption and increased spending on fruits, vegetables, dairy, and processed foods.
• Urban households now allocate less than 35% of their food expenditure to cereals, a significant drop from over 60% three decades ago.
• India's cropping patterns are still heavily focused on rice and wheat, which occupy approximately 40% of the cropped area.
• Imports supply 60% of India's edible oil demand, highlighting a mismatch between production and consumption.
• Dietary diversification and farm diversification are essential for economic, ecological, and nutritional reasons.
• The PM-POSHAN program, which feeds 10-12 crore children daily, can send strong demand signals for diverse foods.

Detailed Insights:

• Changing food habits are reshaping Indian agriculture and rural economies, presenting an opportunity for diversification.
• NSSO and Consumer Expenditure Surveys indicate a steady decline in per-capita cereal consumption since the early 1990s.
• Rural India is following the urban trend with a lag, with spending on processed and value-added foods more than tripling in the last two decades.
• Subsidies, procurement, and MSPs continue to favor rice and wheat, hindering the shift towards more diverse and nutrient-rich foods.
• Dietary diversity is crucial to address India's triple burden of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity.
• Millets use significantly less water than rice and wheat, and pulses improve soil health by fixing nitrogen.
• Diversification can provide farmers with more income sources and mitigate market risks, especially for smallholders.
• Assured procurement pilots, price-deficiency payments, expanded crop insurance, and demand-linked research investments are needed to support diversification.

Key Concepts Involved:

• MSP (Minimum Support Price): A price set by the government to purchase certain crops from farmers, ensuring a minimum profit.
• Procurement: The process by which the government purchases crops from farmers, often at the MSP.
• Dietary Diversity: Consuming a wide variety of foods from different food groups to ensure adequate nutrient intake.
• Farm Diversification: Growing a variety of crops or raising livestock on a farm to reduce risk and increase income.