Estimation Of Demand For Fish In Delhi And NCR, India

Fast population growth, increase in per capita income and increase in level of awareness among the people regarding health are the main causes of increase in demand for nutritional and protein rich food. Fish is very good source of protein as well as vitamins. Fish may play a vital role to ensure the nutritional security in rural areas. Fish production and consumption has however undergone major uneven changes in the past four decades. It is found that at higher ends of the income distribution, the consumption of milk, eggs, meat, fish and processed foods have risen. Present study focuses on the demand for fish in Delhi and NCR in comparison to other items like chicken, mutton and eggs. A Three Stage Budgeting Framework of demand is used for present analysis. NSSO data of household consumption has been used for analysis. Per capita consumption of “fish”, “chicken” and “mutton” in Delhi and NCR were estimated and it was found to be 4.04 kg/ annum, 2.27 kg/annum and 0.81 kg/annum respectively. So, per capita consumption of “fish” was found to be greater than “chicken” as well as “mutton”. Income elasticity of demand was estimated for each income group of population and in most of the cases demand for fish was found to be income elastic. Compensated as well as non-compensated price elasticity of demand for fish was also estimated. It was found that price elasticity of fish was almost unitary elastic whereas price elasticity of chicken” and mutton were price inelastic. Fish demand was also projected up to 2020 and it was found to be 5.11 kg/capita/ annum in 2020. With increase in income of the population as well as awareness of health benefit of fish, it is expected that fish consumption will increase at a very fast rate in future. However the presence of a large proportion of vegetarian population in Delhi and NCR is a challenging proposition for increasing of overall fish consumption of Delhi and NCR.