Archive · 23 Sep 2026
India’s Farmers Get More From Home Than Restaurant Food Spending
Researchers studied how consumers’ food money moves through the economy.
They used supply-use tables and a method called the Food Dollar series.
In 2023-24, farmers received about 58 paise from each rupee spent on food eaten at home.
They received about 8 paise from each rupee spent on food eaten outside the home.
Restaurant meals involve extra steps such as preparation, service, and trade.
These steps keep more of the money before it reaches the farm.
India’s at-home farm share has grown since 2011-12.
Its away-from-home farm share has fallen since the 2010s.
Farmers received 57.8% of every rupee spent on food consumed at home in 2023-24.
Farmers received only 8.4% of food spending away from home in 2023-24.
The at-home farm share rose from 51.8% in 2011-12.
The away-from-home farm share declined from about 10% during the 2010s.
India’s farm shares were higher than comparable estimates for most countries, including the United States of America.
- Who
- Farmers and consumers in India, as examined through the Food Dollar series.
- What
- A study estimated the share of consumer food spending that reaches farms.
- When
- The estimates cover 2011-12 to 2023-24.
- Where
- India, with comparisons to other countries and the United States of America.
- Why
- To measure how much of each rupee spent on food accrues to farmers.
- At-home farm share, 2023-24
- 57.8%
- Away-from-home farm share, 2023-24
- 8.4%
- At-home farm share, 2011-12
- 51.8%
- Away-from-home trend
- Declined from about 10% during the 2010s
- Method
- Food Dollar series using supply-use tables
- International comparison
- Estimates for 61 countries over 2005-15 found an average at-home farm share of about 27%
- United States comparison
- The away-from-home farm share was about 4%