Paper: GS-III, Subject: Economy, Topic: Agriculture Inputs, Issue: Changing Diet: Impact on Indian Agriculture
Context:
India’s food habits are shifting from cereal-heavy diets to diverse, nutrient-rich foods such as millets, pulses, fruits, vegetables, dairy and animal products. But farming remains rice-wheat dominated due to MSP and procurement. This mismatch raises import dependence, nutrition risks, and farmer income instability.
| Theme | Key Point | Evidence / Data |
| Shifting Consumption Patterns | Urban menu transformation | Millets, indigenous rice, artisanal pulses, region-specific oils becoming common |
| Declining cereal consumption | National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) & Consumer Expenditure Surveys show steady decline since early 1990s | |
| Rising expenditure on diverse foods | Higher spending on fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, meat, fish, processed foods | |
| Reduced cereal allocation | Urban households spend <35% on cereals vs >60% three decades ago | |
| Growth of packaged/health foods | Health & packaged food segment growing >20% annually | |
| Mismatch Between Production and Consumption | Entrenched cropping patterns | Rice & wheat occupy ~40% of cropped area |
| Limited diversification | Pulses/oilseeds/fruits/vegetables <30%, millets 13% | |
| Policy bias | Subsidies, procurement, MSPs, irrigation, research, extension favour rice-wheat |
Economic Costs of the Mismatch:
- Edible Oil Imports: India imports 60% of its edible oil demand.
- Pulse Price Volatility: Shortages in pulses lead to price increases and imports, followed by production surges that cause price crashes.
- Global Examples: The rise of quinoa as a staple between 2000 and 2015 transformed production patterns in Peru, with exports rising nearly tenfold.
India’s diets are diversifying faster than farms. Continuing rice-wheat lock-in risks import dependence, nutrition gaps, water stress, and unstable farm incomes. A policy shift procurement support, risk cover, and supply-chain investments can convert changing food habits into a sustainable diversification opportunity for farmers and the economy.
Source: (The Indian Express)
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2026 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040