Vegetables Consumption Behavior of Rural Farm Families

Abstract

Vegetables are important for human nutrition in terms of bioactive nutrient molecules such as dietary fiber, vitamins (C, A, B1, B6, B9, E) and minerals, and non-nutritive photochemical (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, bioactive peptides, etc.). The main objectives of this study were to determine the vegetables consumption behavior of the rural farm families and explore its relationship with the selected characteristics of the farmers. Data were collected from 80 respondents of two villages of Rupshaupazila under Khulna district, by using a structured personal interview schedule during April-May, 2021 through due to face to face method. Appropriate scales were developed in order to measure the concerned variables. Karl Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) and Spearman's Ranked Correlation Coefficient (p) was used to test the relationship between the selected characteristics and vegetables consumption behavior (VCB). The average vegetables consumption rate by the respondents of the rural farm families was 203.18g/day/person. Most (55 percent) of the respondents showed low consumption rate of the vegetables, while (38.8percent) and (6.3 percent) of the respondents consumed above standard (>235) and standard (235) amount of vegetables respectively. Overlay, highest proportion (38.7 percent) of the respondents showed medium vegetables consumption behavior (knowledge, attitude, intake/consumption) whereas one third 33.8 percent and 27.5 percent of them showed high and low vegetables consumption behavior respectively. Among the 13 selected characteristics of respondent's education, family size, innovativeness, extension media contact, organizational participation, knowledge, attitude and food intake was positively correlated with vegetables consumption behavior. On the other hand, respondent's age, farming experience, farm size, family income, training showed a negative significant relationship with vegetables consumption behavior. However, the vegetables consumption behavior of the respondents was satisfactory.