American International Journal of Agricultural Studies Vol. 2, No. 1; 2019 ISSN 2641-4155 E-ISSN 2641-418X Published by American Center of Science and Education, USA 52 Food Habit and Dietary Intake of Garment Workers in Semi-Urban Area of Bangladesh Afroza Chowdhury Scientific Officer Agricultural Economics Division Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur, Bangladesh. E-mail: afroza_muna@yahoo.com Abstract The study was conducted to assess the food habit and dietary pattern of garment workers who work at semi-urban area of Dhaka and Gazipur. Under the specific objectives the study tried to reveal the family background of garment workers, reasons of migration and involving in garment factory, monthly budgetary allocation for food, access to commodity market, rice consumption pattern, average food intake and changes in overall livelihood pattern. The result showed that,12 percent of the respondent was the only earning member of the family. Average family size of the respondents was 7 whereas number of dependent family member on his/her income was 3(on an average). Most of the respondent garment workers belong to farming community (78%). The majority (58 percent) of them were migrated for extreme poverty or insolvency. The finding ensured that cereals, notably rice, constitute the most important item of food consumed by the garment workers. Rice essentially dominated average daily food intake per person at 443 grams making up 52.37% of total food consumption. Among the respondent’s 36 percent took rice thrice a day and rice were also being consumed as snacks in different forms as well. Varietal preference of rice was found dependent on respondent’s budget constraints and per unit retail price. Keywords: Average daily food intake, budget for food, food habit, rice consumption. 1. Introduction Although the economy of Bangladesh is largely dependent on agriculture, the Ready–Made Garments (RMG) sector has emerged as the biggest earner of foreign currency. The sector has experienced an exponential growth and contributes significantly; about 15 percent; to the GDP. It also provides employment to around 4.2 million Bangladeshis and uplifted the neglected section of the population; especially women; through empowerment and transforming their socio-economic condition (Ali R.N.et al, 2008).With a dream of living better life millions of workers from villages gather in workers barrack in cities surrounding the garment industries. The daily diet consumed by the factory workers in Bangladesh is simple; rice is dominant and most probably lacks important nutrients. Hence, consumption of such diet presents a risk of developing nutrient deficiency disorders (Dipti S.S. et al, 2008). Being the most dominant food in Bangladeshi diet, rice is the primary source of energy and several nutrients such as carbohydrate, protein and iron whereas it contributes relatively little of the vitamin A, calcium and no vitamin C (Hassan and Ahmad, 1990). In Bangladesh, food habit and cooking process of rice and vegetables generally leads to significant loss of nutrients as a result of lacking in nutritional knowledge and awareness among the mass people. Food and nutritional security are a focal point of deriving the livelihood. Thus, it is important to investigate the food habit and determine the amount of the different nutrients that an individual garment worker can derive from average daily per capita food intake. 2. Research Objectives The specific objectives of the study were ▪ To assess the socio-economic status and budget for food of garment workers in Bangladesh; and, ▪ To investigate the food habit and dietary intake of garment workers. http://www.acseusa.org/journal/index.php/aijas mailto:afroza_muna@yahoo.com https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Bangladesh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDP www.acseusa.org/journal/index.php/aijas American International Journal of Agricultural Studies Vol. 2, No. 1; 2019 53 3. Research Methodology The study was conducted in purposively selected semi-urban areas of Savar Upazila of Dhaka and Sadar Upazila of Gazipur district. In total, 165 respondents were selected by random sampling. Food consumption and socio- economic data of garment workers were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire. In this study, quantitative method was chosen in order to get a reasonably true picture of the entire population. The data were collected during the period from July to September, 2019. Simple statistical techniques such as percentage and arithmetic mean were taken into account to analyze a substantial part of the data and to describe socioeconomic characteristics, food habit and dietary intake of the respondents. 4. Result and Discussion 4.1 Socio-economic Characteristics and Background of Garment Workers Two types of households were found in the study areas. Some of the garment workers live in workers barrack migrating alone; whereas others live with their family members. Among the respondent’s majority (64%) was female and their age ranged from 16 to 35 years. Average age of schooling and years of employment in RMG sector was 6 and 3, respectively. About 12 percent of the respondents reported that he/she is the only earning member of the family. Average family size of the respondents was 7 whereas number of dependent family member on his/her income was 3(on an average). Most of the respondents belong to farming community (78%) either landless tenant or marginal farming family (Table 1). The third and fourth community belongings identified were non-agricultural laborer and non-migrated local poor, respectively. Table1: Family Background of the Garment Workers Community Number of respondents Percentages Landless tenantfarming family 83 50 Marginal farming family 46 28 Non-agricultural Laborer 23 14 Non-migrated Local poor 13 8 Total 165 100 Source: Field survey (2019) 4.2 Causes of Migration Several factors seemed to be responsible for the migration of rural population for employment in urban garments. The majority (58 percent) of them were migrated for extreme poverty or insolvency. The second important factor was search of job or unemployment. About 18 percent of the respondents were migrated for this reason. The third and fourth important causes identified by the migrants were to accompany husbands at workplace and personal problems, respectively (Table 2). Table2: Causes of migration to Garments Causes of migration No. of respondents Percentages Extreme poverty or insolvency 96 58 Unemployment 30 18 Marriage/ spouse’s workplace 23 14 Personal problems or Conflict 16 10 Source: Field survey (2019) Note: Percentage may not sum to 100 percent because of multiple responses 4.3 Budget for Food and Access to Commodity Market 4.3.1 Budget for Food For the people of low-income group, food consumption and dietary intake is closely related to budgetary allocation and purchasing power. The respondents expressed their helplessness in facing the biggest challenge of balancing between financial ability and basic needs. The situation becomes miserable for single earners, unskilled and preliminary garment workers in the 1st week of every month, because of delay in getting salary. Sending money to www.acseusa.org/journal/index.php/aijas American International Journal of Agricultural Studies Vol. 2, No. 1; 2019 54 village, house rent, educational fees etc. were the major priorities in budget allocation. Whatever remains after meeting all other necessities was spent on food. The result revealed that, 44 percent of the respondent allocated Tk. 51-60 for daily meals per person (Table 3). Table 3: Garment workers’ Daily Budget for Food Daily Budget per Person No. of respondents Percentages Less than Tk. 50 30 18 Tk. 51-60 73 44 Tk. 61-70 49 30 Above Tk. 60 13 8 Source: Field survey (2019) 4.3.2 Access to Commodity Market At semi-urban and urban garment areas, vendors sell lower quality semi-rotten commodities and unappealing fruits at cheaper rate at evening markets. In the study areas, cent percent respondent reported that they prefer to buy day- to-day commodities from the evening markets while coming back home. Of the total garment workers, 96 percent choose the evening market as it provided commodities in cheap and affordable price. A proportion of 92 percent and 84 percent preferred it for no additional transport cost and scope of bargaining, respectively. The respondents also liked evening markets for other reasons such as availability of preferred commodities, freshness etc. (Table 4). Table 4: Reason for Choosing Evening Markets Reasons No. of respondents Percentages Cheap price and affordable 159 96 Free of transport and carrying cost 151 92 Scope of bargaining 139 84 Fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits 56 34 Availability of small fishes in bhaga 86 52 Availability of dry fish 53 32 Availability of chicken byproducts (liver, throat, skin, kidney etc.) in kg. 23 14 Formalin/ preservative-free 36 22 Source: Field survey (2019) Note: Percentage may not sum to 100 percent because of multiple responses 4.4 Food Habit and Dietary Intake 4.4.1 Rice Consumption Behavior Looking into the dietary practices of the garment workers, results revealed that cereals, notably rice, constitute the most important item of food consumed in the study areas. Parboiled rice was served as major staple to 96 percent of the respondent while a small percentage was served wheat flour and un-parboiled rice. Among the respondent’s 36 percent took rice thrice a day. Boiling rice in excess water and discarding the gruel was found common practices and reported by 72 percent respondents. Varietal preference of rice was found dependent on respondent’s budget constraints and per unit retail price. Cooking quality and taste of rice was preferred than grain shape and appearance. The study results hardly found dis-similarities among the interviewees regarding rice consumption behavior. Rice is also being consumed as snacks in different forms like Moori (puffed rice), Chira (flattened rice), Khoi, Chal-vaja, Khud (broken rice) and Pitha (cakes made of rice flour). www.acseusa.org/journal/index.php/aijas American International Journal of Agricultural Studies Vol. 2, No. 1; 2019 55 Table 4: Consumption Pattern of Different Rice Items Rice Items Percentage of respondent Regular Consumption Occasional Consumption Parboiled Rice 96 - Un-parboiled Rice 4 64 Moori/ puffed rice 100 - Chira/ flattened rice 40 60 Khoi - 76 Rooti (bread of rice flour) 14 100 Chal-vaja and Khud (broken rice) 10 90 Gruel - 10 Panta /Left-over rice - 30 Pitha (cakes made of rice flour). - 100 Source: Field survey (2019) 4.4.2 Food Consumption Pattern Average per capita food consumption pattern of garment workers was highest for cereals and cereal products followed by vegetables and tubers. Rice essentially dominated daily food intake at 443 grams making up 52.37% of it. Milk and milk products, egg and meat were consumed only occasionally in a small amount. Fruit intake was mainly seasonal and includes banana, mango, jackfruit, guava, black berry and other locally produced less- expensive ones. The least consumed food groups were vegetables, fish, pulse, sugar, edible oil etc. Table 5: Average per capita per day food intake of garment workers Items Average per Capita per Day Food Intake (grams) Percentages of Total Consumption Rice and rice products 443.6 52.37 Wheat and other Cereals 27.1 3.20 Potato, starchy root and tubers 55.2 6.52 Pulse 24.9 2.94 Sugar/ Gur 7.5 0.89 Edible Oil 17.2 2.03 Vegetables 162.1 19.14 Fruits 13.5 1.59 Fish, dried fish and Meat 40.05 4.73 Eggs 6.04 0.71 Milk and milk products 23 2.72 Spices and condiments 10.9 1.29 Miscellaneous (tea, soft drinks, snacks, betel leaf etc.) 15.9 1.88 Total Food Consumed 847 100 Source: Field survey (2019) Comparing the average per capita per day food intake of garment workers with the daily requirement (as per BAN-HDRB 2007) it is clear that they are consuming food items; except rice; in a lesser amount than required (fig. 1). Rice is being consumed in a higher rate (26.74 percent) than the daily requirement of 350 grams. This pattern of imbalanced consumption may lead to serious malnutrition and health hazards. www.acseusa.org/journal/index.php/aijas American International Journal of Agricultural Studies Vol. 2, No. 1; 2019 56 Figure 1: Comparison of Daily Food Intake with the Requirement 4.4.3 Changes in Overall Livelihood Pattern In order to identify the overall socioeconomic improvement in the livelihood of household, the respondents were asked about their opinion for their overall socioeconomic change that might have taken place due to involving in garment factory. Table 6 reveals that 64 percent of the respondents reported that their socio-economic conditions had improved due to involving in garment factory, while 36 percent responded no change in their overall socioeconomic condition has taken place. Rising inflation, replaying loan and increasing family expectation were the main reasons reported by the respondents who had the negative responses. Table 6: Changes in overall livelihood pattern Types of changes No. of respondents Percentages Improved 105 64 Not Improved 60 36 Total 165 100 Source: Field survey (2019) 5. Conclusion The study was conducted to assess the food habit and dietary pattern of garment workers who work at Dhaka and Gazipur. Under the specific objectives the study tried to reveal the family background of garment workers, reasons of migration and involving in garment factory, monthly budgetary allocation for food, access to commodity market, rice consumption pattern, average food intake and changes in overall livelihood pattern. The result showed that,12 percent of the respondent was the only earning member of the family. Average family size of the respondents was 7 whereas number of dependent family member on his/her income was 3(on an average). Most of the respondent garment workers belong to farming community (78%). The majority (58 percent) of them were migrated for extreme poverty or insolvency. The finding ensured that cereals, notably rice, constitute the most important item of food consumed by the garment workers. Rice essentially dominated average daily food intake per person at 443 grams making up 52.37% of total food consumption. Among the respondent’s 36 percent took rice thrice a day and rice www.acseusa.org/journal/index.php/aijas American International Journal of Agricultural Studies Vol. 2, No. 1; 2019 57 were also being consumed as snacks in different forms as well. Varietal preference of rice was found dependent on respondent’s budget constraints and per unit retail price. 6. Recommendation Current condition of the garment workers would not improve if their earning couldn’t be balanced with the living cost. Price of daily necessities need to be controlled. Government should supply subsidized daily needs at the industrial areas of Bangladesh. Enriching rice varieties with micro nutrients like vitamins, minerals would be a potential solution to ensuring food as well as nutritional security of the garment workers. References Ali, R. N., Begum, M. M., Salehim, K. S., & Farid, K. S. (2008). Livelihood pattern of rural women garment workers at Dhaka city. Journal of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, 6(452-2016-35506). Dipti, S. S., Tuazon, M. A. G., & Kabir, K. A. (2008). Nutritional Status of the Members of the Factory Worker- Headed Households of Four Villages of Gazipur District. Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development, 6(1), 119-124. Hassan, N., & Ahmad, K. (1984). Studies on food and nutrient intake by rural population of Bangladesh: comparison between intakes of 1962–64, 1975–76 and 1981–82. Ecology of food and nutrition, 15(2), 143-158. 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