Do households that experience crop failure or price shocks reduce animal source food expenditures in rural Peru?

Abstract

Animal source foods (ASF) are rich in protein, iron, zinc and other nutrients essential for optimal growth and development. We hypothesized that price shocks or crop failure for rural Peruvian households led to reduced expenditures on ASF. Peruvian Young Lives household panel data (n=857) in 2006 and 2009 was used to characterize relations between these shocks and ASF expenditures per adult equivalent (AE) over the previous 15 days, adjusted to 2006 Peruvian soles. Between 2006 and 2009, 6.8% (n=58) of households experienced crop failure and 13.3% (n=114) experienced price shocks. In that same time period, average household ASF expenditures per AE increased by ~50% (19.0 soles+ 16.5 to 27.6 soles+ 18.5) and household ASF expenditures increased from 25.1% to 29.0% of total food expenditures. Experience of price shocks or crop failure did not significantly affect changes in total ASF expenditures or meat expenditures between 2006 and 2009. Crop failure was significantly associated with decreased expenditures on eggs. ASF expenditures and total food expenditures increased during this period, and total ASF expenditures and meat expenditures remained stable regardless of reported shocks to the household.