Effect of Industrialisation on Income Sources and Food Consumption of Farm Households in Vemgal Industrial Area of Karnataka, India

Industrialisation has a significant influence on the livelihoods of households residing in villages near industrial zones. The present study examined the impact of industrialisation on household income and food expenditure in Kurugal village which is 5 km from Vemgal Industrial Area through comparative analysis with Kurubur located 22km away. Advanced models like Gini index, Principal Component Analysis(PCA) were used to find income inequality and dietary pattern. Kurugal households earned ₹38624 per year more than kurubur households, with higher inequality index (0.31). PCA revealed a balanced and pulse-based diet in Kurugal, while Kurubur showed a cereal-dominant pattern. Results highlighted significant socio-economic and dietary changes near industrial villages. A major challenge of the study was isolating the effect of industrial proximity from other socio-economic changes that occurred in the study area. However, the findings underlined the need for more inclusive and sustainable industrial policies that support livelihood along with economic growth.