1Department of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
2Department of Social Sciences, Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Trichy, Tamil Nadu
3Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
The study has analysed the socio-economic profile of street food vendors and consumer base of street food vending by conducting a survey to 50 vendors and 50 consumers in Coimbatore city of Tamil Nadu. The study has found that street food vending has provided employment and substantial household income to the urban low and middle income categories of population. The major problems faced by the vendors in preparation of street food were high cost of raw materials, and lack of institutional support. In marketing and sales of street food, problems were impact of season, lack of adequate space and lack of resources. The gap analysis has revealed that improvement in use of gloves, apron, hood and hygiene of workers should be given more importance by vendors. The comparative analysis has shown that urban poor were able to achieve food security at affordable cost through street food. The study has indicated the need for training of vendors on basic principles of sanitation, manufacturing quality and safety. The absence of street food may lead ultimately to food and nutrional insecurity of urban poor.
Street food, food vending, food security, nutritional security, urban poor, Tamil Nadu
