La consommation de la pomme de terre et des légumes frais en Tunisie: un diagnostic contrasté et des effets prix et dépenses alimentaires différenciés par milieu d’habitat

La consommation de la pomme de terre et des légumes frais en Tunisie: un diagnostic contrasté et des effets prix et dépenses alimentaires différenciés par milieu d’habitat

New Medit, Vol. 8, n. 2, (June 2009), pp. 14-22

 

Language: FR
Jel classification: C210, D120, Q110

 

This paper aims to analyze the evolution of the fresh vegetables demand in Tunisia over the 1980-2000 period, while trying to determine the effects of households location and of economic factors such as prices and incomes. Moreover, in the framework of the total food consumption model, the fresh vegetables demand is also analyzed through its economic relationships with cereals and meat, which represent the traditional and transition consumption model respectively. Results show a constant increase for the consumption of fresh vegetables in spite of its increasingly budgetary coefficient particularly in urban areas, characterized by more diversified consumption of fresh vegetables. Potatoes remain the most consumed products but they are considered a luxury commodity in rural areas, differently from other vegetables that are primary goods. The substitution relationships between potato and cereals and between potato and white meats are confirmed, whatever the location. The complementarities between potatoes and red meats appeared in rural area and their substitution in urban area. The traditional consumption model based on cereals is in transition towards a model richer in potatoes. The rural area seems to better preserve good food practices whereas the urban area is more vulnerable to food changes and could constitute a nutritional risk location.

 

fresh vegetables, potatoes, households’ location, food consumption model, food expenditures, price, double logarithm demand system, Tunisia

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