Rise in Per Capita Access to Fruits and Vegetables in India
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New Delhi, Dec 14 (NationPress) The per capita access to fruits and vegetables in India has seen an increase of 7 kg and 12 kg over the past decade, according to a report from SBI Research.
The most significant rise in the per capita yield of fruits and vegetables has occurred in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir.
The report indicates that India produces approximately 227 kg of fruits and vegetables per person annually, surpassing the general recommendation of at least 146 kg per person each year.
However, due to the perishable nature of these products, a considerable amount is lost during the processes of harvest, storage, grading, and transport.
The report further highlights that the effects of extreme climate on food grain production have been detrimental. Agricultural production and supply chains have been impacted by numerous heat and cold waves in recent years. The correlation between food grain output and extreme weather conditions has generally been negative across most states.
The Indian Council for Agricultural Research states that for every 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature above 30 degrees Celsius during the grain-filling phase, wheat yield diminishes. These recurrent climatic shocks have also contributed to a rise in food inflation by about 3-4 percent, according to the report.
As part of the growth in a developing economy, the report mentions that personal loan data suggests increased urbanization in states like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan over the last decade.
About a third of India’s total population resides in urban areas. The trend indicates an urbanization increase of more than 5 percent during the past decade (2014-2024), as reported.
"Analysis of the credit data on 'Personal Loans' shows an increase of around 115 basis points (bps) in Uttar Pradesh, with Rajasthan following at 97 bps. This suggests that urbanization may have intensified in these states, as personal loans are predominantly sought in urban regions," the report stated.
Economists believe that this surge in urbanization will result in a heightened demand for fruits and vegetables as income levels rise with improved employment opportunities in cities.
