IJFANS International Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences

ISSN PRINT 2319 1775 Online 2320-7876

THE INFLUENCE OF MICRO-FINANCE SERVICES ON THE NUTRITIONAL FOOD EXPENDITURE OF RURAL PEOPLE

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Saviour F , Dr. G. Jeslin Viola Pet

Abstract

In many developing countries, rural communities struggle with malnutrition and poverty, which can be exacerbated by a lack of access to nutritious food. This can lead to a vicious cycle of poor health and economic stagnation. As far as a rural family is concerned, even a small sickness can impact the economic stability. Promoting the production and consumption of nutritious food in rural areas can have a positive impact on both health and development. By investing in local agricultural production and improving access to markets, rural communities can increase their income and improve their food security while also promoting the consumption of healthy, locally-grown foods. Additionally, promoting nutrition education and encouraging healthy eating habits can lead to improved health outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and increased productivity. This, in turn, can help drive economic growth and improve overall quality of life in rural communities. "Micro-finance is the delivery of a wide range of financial services to low-income households and their microbusinesses, including deposits, loans, payment services, money transfers, and insurance." (Sharma 2001)1. Micro-finance has been recognised as a tool for poverty eradication. Services provided by micro-finance institutions and NGOs are somewhat helping rural people to invest on agriculture. The researcher has attempted to study whether there is any relation between the micro-finance schemes introduced in rural areas and the and the nutritional food expenditure of rural people. The stratified random sampling method has been used for selecting the sample. A survey method using an interview schedule has been employed for collecting primary data from 150 respondents who are the users of micro-finance schemes in rural areas. The collected data has been analysed and interpreted using descriptive analysis, the independent sample t test, the chi-square test, one sample T test and paired T test to arrive at proper conclusions. The research paper concludes that micro-finance services significantly influence the nutritional food expenditure of rural people in India.

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