Nutrient consumption and poverty in Mongolia

Abstract

Using data from the Household Socio-Economic Survey 2007-08, this study investigates the relationship between nutrient consumption and poverty in Mongolia. The nutrient consumption, I use here, is defined in terms of energy (calorie) and other macro nutrients such as fat, protein and carbohydrates.

The results show that the difference between nutrient consumption between the poor and for the non-poor was quite large and statistically significant. The adequacy ratio, one of food security indicators, reveals that poor households are below the benchmark level of all nutrients except animal fat. And it can imply that deficiencies in nutrients are a problematic issue only for poor households while all the population is facing a problem with excess of appropriate intake for animal fat. The findings of the study also suggest that serious attention is needed to diversify the food diet of the poor.

To conclude, the best way to fight the food security problem in the country could be the combination of policies that increase household incomes and that provide information on how to obtain a balanced and healthy diet.