An interesting change has emerged in eating habits in India. A recent study has found that fish consumption is increasing rapidly in the country. This increase has been seen not only in areas where fish has traditionally been an important part of the diet but also in remote areas where eating fish was not common. This increase can be linked to rising incomes, changing diets, and better availability of fish.

For this study, conducted in collaboration with the World Fisheries Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and other government and international bodies, researchers analyzed data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) between 2005-06 and 2019-21. Did. The study found that between 2005-06 and 2019-21, the proportion of fish eaters increased from 66% to 72.1%. At the same time, per capita fish consumption has increased from 4.9 kg to 8.9 kg annually. The study also found that among people who already ate fish, per capita consumption increased from 7.4 kg to 12.3 kg.

The study states that India has the highest growth rate in fish consumption in the World Bank's group of lower-middle-income countries. However, per capita consumption is still just over half the group average (14.9 kg in 2020).

Why is fish consumption increasing?

The study cited three main reasons behind the increase in fish consumption:

Increasing income: With the increase in people's income, variety is coming into their diet. Fish is now becoming cheap and accessible, due to which people are including it in their diet.

Changing eating habits: Due to increasing health awareness, people are now paying more attention to including nutrients in their diet. Fish is a good source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and other essential nutrients, which attracts people.

Better availability of fish: Due to improvements in cooling and transportation facilities, fish is now easily available even in remote areas.

Future of fish consumption in India

The study also found that there is still a lot of scope for fish consumption in India. In the future, fish consumption in India can be further increased by promoting fish farming and strengthening the fish supply chain. This will not only help in improving the nutritional level of the people but will also strengthen the means of livelihood of the people associated with fish farming.

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