Socio Economic Determinants of Food Consumption Pattern in Rural Areas of District Nowshera Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan
Abstract
Abstract:Thisresearch study was conducted to analyze the socioeconomic determinants of the food consumption pattern in rural areas of District Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan in 2015. For the said purpose a village in District Nowshera named, Mughalky was selected as study area to analyse the food intake pattern of households. The sample size for the study was 3% of the study area calculating to be about 120 households while adopting the systematic random sampling (lottery method).Both the data sources while primary data were mainly used. Questionnaire cum interview schedule method was used for collection of primary data. Multiple Linear Regression and Descriptive Statistics were used for data analysis.The results described that an average household size in the concerned area consisted of eight persons. Average monthly income of an average household was 10634.2 and an average household expend 44.25% proportion of their income on monthly food consumption.All the food items were separated into different main groups i.e. flour, meat, pulses, milk, rice, vegetables, edible fates, fruits, sugar, eggs, tea, bakery items, drinks and fast food. An average household’s total expenditure on food consumption was Rs. 4705.5(44.93$). Furthermore, it was found out that the percentage part of flour in entire expenditure was 20.06%. The part of other food items in total expenditure was found to be milk 19.65%, sugar 12.44%, edible fates 12.08%, meat 9.64%, vegetables 6.99%, rice 4.24%, pulses 4.17%, tea 3.94%, fruits 2.52%, eggs 1.40%, drinks 1.34%, bakery items 1.26%, and fast food 0.27%.Results also described that value of various food items was having negative correlation with the household’s consumption while the household size and income were having positive correlation with consumption of the various food commodities. It may be concluded that the consumption pattern in rural areas was a traditional one. It was not much healthy and nutritional in the sense that people cannot take healthy food as it is necessary due to lack of awareness, low income level and education. It was suggested that better and attractive job opportunities should be provided to the residents of rural areas.
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