Journal of Animal Research: v.5 n.1, p. 37-45. April. 2015

DOI Number: 10.5958/2277-940X.2015.00007.8

Meat consumption in North-East India: Pattern, Opportunities and Implications

Sumit Mahajan 1* , J.S. Papang 2 and K.K. Datta 3

1 Department of Dairy Business Management, College of Dairy Science and Food Technology, CGKV, Raipur, INDIA

2,3 Division of Dairy Economics, Statistics, and Management, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, INDIA.

*Corresponding author: S Mahajan; Email: sumitzone2009@gmail.com

Received: 21 January, 2015

Accepted: 13 March, 2015

ABSTRACT

Meat is an important and common source of animal protein in the NE (North-Eastern) states as seen from the expenditure

estimates which shows that 15 per cent in rural areas and 18 per cent in urban areas is devoted to meat out of the total food

expenditure. The study is based on NSSO data on household consumption expenditure in 2009-10 pertaining to the 66 th round.

The study showed that the proportion of meat out of total food expenditure is almost two to three times more than the national

average. Manipur is an exception where the rural households’ proportionate expenditure is more than urban households. Chevon/

mutton and chicken have lesser supply than demand in most NE states. Beef and pork are relatively cheaper in rural areas and

therefore consumed more whereas urbanization may be the factor that influence liking for chevon/mutton consumption in urban

areas. Export policy, Infrastructure development, feed sector, and establishment of modern slaughter houses are some of the

issues which need attention of the government to sustain meat consumption in the region.

Keywords: Meat, Consumption, North-East India, Production

A number of factors can influence household consumption

areas and 18 per cent in urban areas is devoted to meat

patterns. These can be economic (e.g., income and price

out of the total food expenditure. The importance of meat

changes), social (e.g., urbanisation leading to dietary

production and consumption in the region in recent years

changes), cultural (e.g., influences by exotic lifestyles),

seem to take a higher platform with few brands emerging

and market development that makes new foods available

in the region in organised production and processing of

(Zhou et al. , 2005). Among these factors, however,

meat e.g. Arohan Foods in Guwahati and Meat Treat in

income is seen to be the most influential. The increase in

Shillong.

consumer income in fast-growing developing countries

An in-depth understanding of the dynamics of meat

tends to induce greater changes in the composition of food

consumption for NE states is invaluable not only for

consumption (Cranfield et al. , 1998; Guo et al., 2000;

academic exploration but also for policy formation. The

Gould, 2002).

objective of the paper is to study the meat production

Livestock rearing and fishery is the most important

and consumption pattern across the households of

farm activities performed in almost all NE states. The

different NE states, the demand-supply gap, the per capita

dependence on livestock as an alternative source of income

expenditure on meat in the NE states and to analyse the

is significant with livestock accounting for 18 per cent

imbalance between rural and urban areas with regards to

of the value of output in agriculture sector in this region

meat consumption. The region is taken for the study as it

(Kumar et al ., 2007). Meat is an important and common

is the major consumer of meat in the country. The paper

source of animal protein in the NE states as seen from the

will also help to analyse the requirements and need of the

expenditure estimates which shows that 15 per cent in rural

present situation of the meat industry in the region. The