Relationship between Profile and Food Consumption Pattern of Tribal Families of Palghar District
Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between profile and food consumption pattern of the tribal families from Palghar district. The study was conducted at the Palghar district. Samples of 120 tribal families were considered as respondents for present study. The respondents were interviewed with the help of specially designed schedule. Collected data was classified, tabulated and analysed by using various statistical methods. The result of the study showed that the relationship between family education status and food consumption pattern, family size and food consumption pattern, annual income of the family and food consumption pattern, cropping pattern and food consumption pattern, resource availability and food consumption pattern was found to be ‘positive’ and ‘significant’. The relationship between major occupation and food consumption pattern, landholding and food consumption pattern, farming experience and food consumption pattern, social participation and food consumption pattern was found to be ‘non-significant’. The extension workers should consider these facts while planning and executing programmes for development of the tribal families living in Palghar district.
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Introduction
India has the second largest tribal population in the world, next to Africa. Our country represents over 700 tribal groups (including sub-groups) with a population of 84.3 million (8.2%) population in almost all states except in Haryana and Punjab. Bhil, Gond-Madia, Katkari, Koli, Oraon, Warli are the major tribes of Maharashtra. These communities are mostly dependent on wild plants for many purposes. The tribal communities have vast knowledge about the importance of consumption of wild plants. Nutritional status of the population largely depends on the consumption of food in relation to their needs, which is influenced by availability of food and purchasing power. With respect to food consumption, people living in urban areas have better access to variety of food items while tribal people living in remote and isolated areas have different dietary habits. The choice of food is deeply related to the lifestyle of an individual. Food habits and consumption pattern is greatly influenced by thoughts, beliefs, notions, traditions and taboos of the society. Apart from these socio-cultural barriers, the religion, education, and economic factors do alter the food behaviour. Maharashtra is becoming one of the game-changers in agriculture-nutrition in India. For one component of the Grand Challenge Initiative funded by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and the Gates Foundation, MSSRF has been working to address malnutrition through the underlying cause of agriculture, gender and biofortification. Food consumption pattern of the tribes needs to be assessed because it helps us understand the major effect on the nutritional status of the population. Also, there is an urgent need to document the data regarding consumption pattern of food that will give an understanding of the existing health. Also, there is a need to spread awareness about the healthcare and food consumption pattern through educational programmes in the tribal areas. The intervention of these programmes can help them identify their problems and find an appropriate solution for these problems.
Conclusion
The result of the study showed that the relationship between family education status and food consumption pattern, family size and food consumption pattern, annual income of the family and food consumption pattern, cropping pattern and food consumption pattern, resource availability and food consumption pattern was found to be ‘positive’ and ‘significant’. The relationship between major occupation and food consumption pattern, landholding and food consumption pattern, farming experience and food consumption pattern, social participation and food consumption pattern was found to be ‘non- significant’. The extension workers should consider these facts while planning and executing programmes for development of the tribal families living in Palghar district.