Nutritional and Economic Benefits of Enhanced Vegetable Production and Consumption

SUMMARY

Vegetables are a major source of dietary micronutrients, but abiotic and biotic constraints limit vegetable production and consumption in Asia. Per capita vegetable consumption in Asia is far below the required level to satisfy the recommended dietary micronutrient intakes. Empirical evidence and discussion in this article show that enhanced vegetable production and consumption in Asia can play a catalytic role in the overall economic development by improving the nutritional status, learning capabilities and managerial capacities of farmers, generating incomes and jobs in both the farm and non-farm sectors, and improving resource use efficiency in agriculture. Rapid urbanization, higher incomes, and greater awareness amongst consumers and producers to diversify their food and production systems have increased the demand for vegetables in Asia. To realize this potential demand, especially during the off-season of vegetable production, trade-oriented and production enhancement strategies are suggested in this article. The trade-oriented policies can help link the favorable vegetable producing areas with consumption centers, and production oriented policies can overcome the biotic and abiotic constraints of vegetable production by developing economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally friendly technologies. Both the strategies require government support and increased allocation of research funds and manpower for vegetable cultivation. Government policies to stabilize vegetable production and trade, can mitigate the risk inherit in vegetable production.

KEYWORDS:

• Food systems
• nutrition
• nutritive value
• production
• consumption
• vegetables