Determinants of Edible Oil : Demand amoung Kerala Households

Edible oil being an important item of consumption is used primarily as a cooking medium in the preparation of normal Kerala diet and thus is indispensible in any household. The state Kerala as the name itself suggests is the land of coconuts, and the oil which is traditionally preferred is coconut oil. But in the last three decades there has been a decline in coconut production due to various reasons, this has led to a rise in price of coconut oil. The edible oil used in cooking is increasingly replaced by imported oils like palm oil and sunflower oil. This increased availability of other edible oils , the propaganda against coconut oil linked with health hazards , adulteration in coconut oil in the market  and  rise in prices of coconut oil, has led to a wide shift in edible oil consumption in Kerala households. Along with household income and price of edible oils, changes in life style, awareness, health consciousness can also influence the type and quantity of household demand for edible oils. In this context it is appropriate to have a detailed understanding of the type of oils used for cooking, the reason for using the different categories of oils, the awareness of households about the use of such oils for cooking and the  factors influencing shift in edible oils across households