Effect of various socio-economic factors on the consumption of processed potato products in Punjab

Abstract

India has witnessed tremendous rise in the popularity of the processed potato products over one decade. A study was carried out for assessing the effect of different socio-economic variables on the consumption pattern of processed potato products in Punjab. The proportion of average processed potato products expenditure in the total expenditure increased from 0.91 per cent in the lowest income category to 1.61 per cent in the highest income category. The proportion of processed potato products in the total food expenditure increased from 1.55 to 3.53 per cent in the same income categories. Average expenditure on processed potato products on the basis of per unit income was 41 per cent higher in urban families compared to the rural ones. The average absolute expenditure on processed potato products in urban households was about 48 per cent higher than their rural counterparts. Except age of the head of the household all other variables under consideration were positively correlated to the expenditure on processed potato products. The stepwise regression analysis found that with the increase in every category of income average monthly household expenditure on processed potato products increased by Rs. 4.58. Further, it was found that on average urban households were spending Rs. 28.12 more on processed potato products every month. Higher proportionate expenditure on processed potato products in respect to family income was found in the study. Similarly proportion of future population is expected to live in urban areas. Hence, the study concluded that future expenditure on processed potato products will increase at higher pace than the growth rate of the economy in the study area.