More Indians are now eating fish, and a lot more of it, finds study | India News – Times of India
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Researchers analysed data from National Family Household Surveys between 2005-06 and 2019-21 to understand consumption trends in those 15 years for the study conducted by WorldFish India in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research and other govt and international bodies.
The proportion of fish eaters increased from 66% to 72.1% between 2005-06 and 2019-21, it found. Annual per capita fish consumption rose from 4.9kg to 8.9kg between 2005 and 2020. Among fish eaters, per capita consumption rose from 7.4kg to 12.3kg.
India’s consumption growth was among the highest in the World Bank group of lower-middle income countries, the study said. Even so, per capita consumption was a little over half the group’s average of 14.9kg in 2020.
North-eastern and eastern states remained big on fish, along with Kerala and Goa. Tripura had the highest percentage of fish eaters (99.35%), followed by Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and West Bengal. At the other end of the fish scale, Haryana had the smallest share of fish eaters (20.6%) in 2019-21, followed by northern Punjab and Rajasthan.
Greatest Increase In J&K
Surprisingly, Jammu and Kashmir saw the biggest increase in the proportion of fish eaters, with a 20.9% point jump, followed by Arunachal Pradesh (15% point increase) and Karnataka (10.1). Consumption in Delhi rose by 8.7% points.
The increase in J&K could be due to improved connectivity and cold storage networks, said Arun Padiyar, an expert with WorldFish India and lead author of the study.
The study also revealed the frequency of fish consumption has risen, with weekly intake increasing by 11.3%. People in Kerala ate fish most frequently, with more than 50% including it in their daily diet, followed by Goa (36.2% daily consumption) and West Bengal (21.9%). Meanwhile, Assam and Tripura had the highest weekly consumption.
More Men Eat It
Overall, 78.6% men ate fish in 2019-21 compared with 65.6% women. The gender gap was smaller in states where more people ate fish and more frequently, such as Kerala. Padiyar said the gender gap was partly because more men ate at hotels and restaurants than women. Urban areas had greater fish consumption, which included eating at hotels. However, consumption in rural areas was growing faster, according to the analysis.
Still Behind Eggs, Chicken
The period between 2005-06 and 2019-21 saw a general increase in non-vegetarian food consumption. Fish consumption lagged behind eggs and chicken, the study showed, although the gap was smaller in coastal states.
Interestingly, the study found a greater increase in weekly fish consumption in the less wealthy strata, perhaps reflecting increased availability and accessibility of fish. In the same 15-year period, fish production in India more than doubled, reaching 14.2 million metric tonnes, with most of it directed towards domestic consumption.
Much of the increase was due to an expansion in fish farming or aquaculture encouraged by government schemes. In a survey by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) last year, 56% of households cited increased availability and more variety as reasons for more consumption. “Push for fish farming can lead to a big boost for local consumption,” said NCAER senior fellow Saurabh Bandyopadhyay.
Padiyar said the wealthiest consumers are likely looking for value-added products, such as ready-to-cook dishes, or high-end varieties like pomfret and lobster. “If those are not available, they won’t increase consumption.”
Despite higher domestic supply – India is the second-largest producer of farmed fish in the world – fish imports rose five times between 2005 and 2020, from 14,000 tonnes to 76,000 tonnes. These imports were likely value-added products such as cleaned and deboned fillets for high-end restaurants, said Padiyar. At current rates, annual per capita consumption would grow to 16.1kg before 2050, the study said, adding that a push from govt and private sectors could double that number.
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