Factors determining the fruit consumption level in a peri-urban area of Bangladesh

Abstract

The study was designed to relate fruit consumption with income and deter- mine the influencing factors of fruit consumption at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and the surrounding area. Data were collected through direct interviews with 155 respondents (90 fruit buyers and 65 non-buyers) who were selected through a random sampling technique. Descriptive statis- tics, Logit and Tobit models were applied to get meaningful results according to the stated objectives. The findings presented that, except banana, apple, grapes and orange had positive correlation with income and fruit consump- tion. Banana consumption has found negatively correlated with income. Regression results revealed that per head income, level of education and nutritional knowledge has a positive and significant influence which leads to the increase in fruit consumption of buyers. On the other hand, the higher price of fruits decreases the amount of fruit consumption and female buyers are more likely to buy fruits than male buyers. Therefore, policymakers should take adequate measures to keep the fruit price reasonable and to enhance increasing nutrition knowledge to increase fruit consumption for all people.