Rapid urbanization, rural transformation and changes in food consumption patterns can spur demand for agricultural produce from the smallholder farm sector, creating urban-rural linkages expanding markets for various crops and livestock products.

Quality and quantity of food consumed is influenced by many factors that have complex interactions including government policy, knowledge, income, food preferences, economic shocks and culture among other factors.

Understanding changes in food expenditure and consumption patterns can assist in developing policies and strategies that enhance domestic production and value addition.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the Managing Agent for the LFSP’s Agricultural Productivity and Nutrition (APN) component. FAO, together with its policy partner Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI), have conducted research to better understand the changes in food expenditure and consumption patterns in Zimbabwe under the context of the LFSP’s operating environment to inform agriculture policy and strategies, enhance domestic production and promote value addition for a healthy population and food consumption base.

The process of gathering consumptive patterns was documented on video and is an interesting and informative watch.

Access the video here