The consumption of vegetables (not including potatoes and sweet potatoes) increases from low income to high income groups (Figure 2.12). The level of vegetable consumption between rural and urban rich was largely comparable, around 130 kg per person per annum. This level, however, was about 30-40 kg higher than that of the bottom income consumers. This somewhat goes against intuition. It would be expected that because vegetables are relatively low value foods compared to animal products that lower income people would consume more. There are a couple of explanations as to why this might be the case. It may be that some of those poor do not have refrigerators and when they are not close to markets, they may not buy vegetables every day. Further, vegetable production requires water but water is scarce in the North-West region. Thus, vegetables may have to be imported from other regions, increasing the price and reducing affordability for lower income groups (Zhang, L.X, per. comm. 1 December 2011).

Vegetables and fruits consumption (1)

There have been no dramatic changes in terms of consumption of vegetables, fruits, melons and their processed products. The quantity consumed seems to be quite stable in both rural and urban areas. The difference in the level of vegetable consumption between rural and urban areas is relatively small. However, fresh fruit consumption in urban areas is twice that in rural areas.