Constraints faced by households in consumption of vegetables in Chhattisgarh: A Garrett ranking analysis

Introduction

Everyone agrees that eating enough vegetables is essential to a balanced diet, which improves nutritional status, lowers the risk of chronic illnesses, and improves general health. Despite these well-established advantages, households in a variety of socioeconomic contexts frequently find it difficult to consume the required amounts of vegetables. Vegetable consumption is influenced by a variety of complicated structural, cultural, and economic variables in addition to personal preferences. Designing successful programs that support dietary variety and public health requires an understanding of these limitations. Vegetable consumption patterns are greatly influenced by household-level obstacles in many emerging nations, including India. Access to veggies is sometimes hampered by high market pricing, low household income, and a lack of fresh supply. These issues are made worse by seasonal variations and poor storage facilities, and decreased intake is a result of cultural preferences for staple foods and a lack of knowledge about their nutritional advantages. Regular vegetable intake is further discouraged by time restrictions related to cleaning, chopping, and cooking, especially in metropolitan homes with hectic schedules. Together, these complex obstacles jeopardize nutritional outcomes and impede dietary adequacy. In light of this, the current study aims to investigate the barriers to vegetable consumption that families encounter, with an emphasis on demographic and economic factors. Based on primary data gathered from 385 homes in eight districts of Chhattisgarh, household preferences for different concerns were systematically ranked using Garrett's ranking approach. The project intends to offer evidence-based insights into the behavioral and structural reasons limiting vegetable intake by identifying and rating these restrictions. The results are anticipated to guide integrated policy interventions that can collectively increase household vegetable intake and improve public health outcomes, such as price regulation, enhanced storage infrastructure, strengthened supply chains, nutrition education, and support for local vegetable production.

Materials and Methods

The present study was conducted in the Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Raigarh, Surguja, Surajpur, Kanker and Bastar districts of Chhattisgarh. From all this districts 385 households were selected as respondents Thus, a sample of 385 households was selected stratified randomly which covers south, north, east and central part of Chhattisgarh. The primary data was collected through personal interview method with the help of structured Questionnaire, specially designed for the study. Collected data were classified, tabulated and analyzed by www.extensionjournal.com using statistical methods like Garrett ranking analysis to rank the constraints. The information regarding constraints was collected through personal interview method. Garrett ranking technique was used to analyses the constraints. Garrett's Ranking Technique provides the change of orders of constraints and advantages into numerical scores. The prime advantage of this technique over simple frequency distribution is that the constraints are arranged based on their severity from the point of view of respondents. Hence, the same number of respondents on two or more constraints may have been given different rank.

Garrett's formula for converting ranks into percent is as below:

Percent position = 100(𝑅𝑗𝑖 -0.5) ÷ 𝑁𝑗 Rji = 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7 th and 8 th Ranks Nj = Total rank given by 385 respondents = 8

Using the table provided by Garrett and Woodworth (1969), the percentage position of each rank was translated into scores. The total number of respondents for whom scores were added was divided by the sum of the individual respondents' scores for each constraint. The constraints were ranked based on the order of these mean scores for each constraint.

Results and Discussion

the constraints faced by consumers in the consumption of vegetables as assessed through the Garrett Ranking Technique. The ranking was determined based on the total Garrett scores and mean Garrett scores obtained for each identified constraint. Vegetables are often more expensive compared to staple foods was found to be the most important limitation, ranking first with a mean Garrett score of 53.40 and a total Garrett score of 20,560. This implies that one of the main obstacles to households regularly consuming veggies is their comparatively high cost. With a mean Garrett score of 53.10 and a total Garrett score of 20,444, the restriction Limited purchasing power reduces affordability of vegetables came in second rank. The findings show that customers' ability to buy enough veggies is greatly impacted by decreased household income and insufficient purchasing power. With a mean Garrett score of 50.33 and a total Garrett score of 19,377, Perishability discourages purchase in bulk and reduces shelf life achieved third place. This result suggests that customers are deterred from purchasing veggies in greater quantities by worries about spoiling and storage losses. With a mean Garrett score of 49.05 and a total Garrett score of 18,883, the limitation Consumers may not recognize the health benefits of vegetables secured the fourth position. This demonstrates how low nutritional understanding affects vegetable intake habits. Additionally, Consumption fluctuates with availability of vegetables season-wise leading to inconsistency was rated fifth, with a mean Garrett score of 48.64 and a total Garrett score of 18,725, suggesting that regular consumption habits are impacted by seasonal fluctuations in vegetable availability. With a mean Garrett score of 48.11 and a total Garrett score of 18,524, Supply chain gaps and weak distribution limit access was ranked sixth, indicating that distribution and market accessibility problems also play a role in consumption limitations. With a mean Garrett score of 46.89 and a total Garrett score of 18,051, the restriction Busy schedules discourage peeling, cutting, or cooking vegetables was ranked seventh. This suggests that modern lifestyles and time restrictions have a minor impact on vegetable intake. Cultural or habitual choices override nutritional awareness was the respondents' least significant limitation, ranking eighth with the lowest overall Garrett score of 17,896 and a mean Garrett score of 46.48. The Garrett ranking analysis shows that the biggest obstacles to vegetable intake are financial ones, namely the high cost of vegetables and consumers' restricted purchasing power. While cultural preferences and time-related variables are somewhat fewer major restraints in the research region, issues pertaining to perishability, nutritional knowledge, seasonal availability, and distribution systems all affect consuming behavior. specifically, the high cost of fruits and consumers' limited purchasing power are the main obstacles to fruit consumption.