Contextual Factors Influencing Production, Distribution, and Consumption of Nutrient-Rich Foods in Bihar, India: A Qualitative Study of Constraints and Facilitators

Abstract

Background: Production-to-consumption linkages are important to improve consumption of nutrient-rich foods to tackle malnutrition. However, understanding specific contextual factors influencing production, distribution, and consumption in rural communities is necessary. Objective: To explore household-, farm-, and market-level factors affecting consumption of nutrient-rich foods among producer and nonproducer households in Bihar, India. Methods: We conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) in producer and nonproducer households of Gaya and Nalanda districts in Bihar to examine factors affecting production and consumption of red lentils, green leafy vegetables (GLVs), milk, eggs, and chicken. Through the KIIs, we identified distribution chains and elicited market-level challenges faced by producers, sellers, and consumers. Data were translated, transcribed, and analyzed thematically using NVivo version 9. Results: Findings from 27 FGDs indicate that consumers and producers were aware of the importance of nutrient-rich foods to health and the necessity of prioritizing their consumption in children. Food preferences, social factors, seasons, religions, and livestock epidemics influenced consumption. Among producers, consumption was mainly dependent on own production. Nonproducers perceived that production could help overcome the barrier of affordability and improve consumption. Data from 69 KIIs indicated that markets were unfavorable in terms of profitability for producers, spoilage and losses for market players, issues of accessibility, and availability for consumers. Conclusions: A local context-specific multipronged approach such as understanding sociocultural factors, own production, and local markets influencing consumption needs to be examined further to improve consumption of nutrient-rich foods among agricultural communities in India.