Village Diets Show An Increase In Protein Consumption

As rural incomes rise due to increased economic opportunities, households are shifting their spending patterns towards more nutritious and aspirational food items.

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The latest Household Consumption and Expenditure Survey (HCES 2022-23) indicates a notable increase in the consumption of proteinrich foods like pulses, milk, eggs, and fish compared to staple cereals like rice and wheat.

In 1999-2000, rural households allocated a significant portion of their spending, around 22%, to cereals, leaving limited room for purchasing protein-rich items. However, this proportion has drastically decreased to 4.91% in 2022-23. Similarly, urban households reduced their spending on cereals from 12% to 3.94% during the same period.