Pulse of Gulbarga:
This red gram comes with a GI tag IT’S CONSIDERED MOST NUTRITIOUS DAL AND IT IS NOT AN EMPTY CLAIM
GDal is a vital source of protein particularly for the poor and the vegetarians.
ulbarga is a historic city in North Karnataka and the administrative headquarters of the eponymous district. It was once the capital of the medieval Bahamani Kingdom.
Though the city and the district are dotted with some splendid Bahamani ruins, the region is now more famous for its lentils and grams, with one particular variety — the red gram — standing out.
Red gram is the gold of North Karnataka and it grows abundantly in the region. So rich and sought-after, every inch of Gulbarga’s cultivable land grows this gram, known commonly as Tur Dal.
But, this is not just the average tur dal that we find in the market. It’s a super food — it’s the pulse of Gulbarga — the commodity that got this historic region its only Geographical Indication (GI) tag!
HARVEST
With the onset of winter begins the harvest season for pulses and grams in North Karnataka, it’s when the farm labourers race against time.
During this season, farm labourers rush from one farmland to another, cashing in on the season’s abundant bounties.
Harvesting red gram involves detaching pods of grams from the stems by constantly beating each stack for a few minutes. The detached pods then go through the threshing machine where the grams and chaff are separated. Finally, the gram is taken to the mill and processed in the machines to uncover the yellow dal from the red gram.
STAPLE
A staple across India, every household and region of India has its favourite variety of lentil. Whether you serve it fried and eat it with a plate of rice or you relish it fried with hot rotis, dal in India is the most loved and essential food.
Relished equally by all sections of Indians, dal is a vital source of protein particularly for the poor and the vegetarians. For the farmers across Gulbarga and its neighbouring districts, who grow the pulse every year, tur dal is a staple.
Every family in this region grows the red gram, which provides them with both food and income. However, the utility of the crop doesn’t end here. Sun-dried red gram plants are the primary source of fuel for the villagers and they also use its sturdy stems to build their huts.
The protein and calcium content that is found in Gulbarga Tur Daal is not found in any other tur crop across the world.”
Santosh Langar | Pulses distributor
NUTRITIOUS
Apart from its size, taste and aroma, Gulbarga Tur Dal is unique for its nutritional content and that is the reason why it has been awarded the GI tag!
A GI tag is usually awarded to a product that is distinct to a particular region, like Darjeeling Tea, Dharwad Peda, Ilkal Saree and Bidriware. The product has to have a speciality either in taste, content, craft or value, which should be unlike any found in other places.
The red gram grown in Gulbarga has high calcium and potassium content due to the mineral-rich black soil of the district.
“The protein and calcium content that is found in Gulbarga Tur Dal is not found in any other tur crop across the world. A high level of calcium and potassium content is found in the soil of four talukas (administrative blocks) of the district and it is considered very good for health. The GI tag is restricted only to these places. It is geographically identified and is because of the soil,” said Santosh Langar, a major distributor of grams and pulses in Gulbarga.
According to official test reports, the calcium and potassium content in the soil of Gulbarga is several times higher than the average level found in other parts of India.
This not only makes the Gulbarga tur dal highly nutritious, but also gives it a superior taste and aroma.
TUR CAPITAL
“Just like some Basmati rice varieties from Punjab have a distinct taste, the Gulbarga Tur Dal also has a distinct taste and aroma,” added Langar.
Considered the king of lentils, tur dal flourishes in many parts of India including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra. But the district of Gulbarga alone produces nearly 20 per cent of India’s tur dal annually.
“Tur dal has been the main crop of this region for a long time. Just the Gulbarga district alone has 400 dal mills. Apart from Gulbarga, most of the North Karnataka districts such as Bidar and Yadgir also have many dal mills. Gulbarga alone produces 4,000 tonnes of tur dal per day during the season, apart from moong and urid varieties. But the predominant crop is tur dal, with the district not only ranking first in Karnataka but in the whole of South India,” said Langar.
Though the GI tag is restricted to only four talukas of Sedam, Chitrapur, Chincholi, Gulbarga and parts of Jewargi, red gram is the predominant and preferred crop in the entire district. However, not all the Gulbarga Tur is of the same quality.
“The Gulbarga red gram is known for its purity, taste and premium quality. We have three categories, the number one category is called Phataka, which is worth Rs9,500 per quintal (prices vary from season to season), the second category is the medium quality, this goes for around Rs8,000, and the third category is the polished version of the medium quality,” said Sharana Basappa Pujari, a mill owner in Gulbarga.
UNFAIR PRICING
One would assume that the unique status of the Gulbarga Tur Dal translates into a higher price and better marketing prospects. But, the realities on the ground seem not so promising.
“Gulbarga mostly has dry land, with very little irrigation. There are very few reservoirs here. Last year, the flood caused a lot of damage to the crops, with 50 per cent of the pulses crop affected. This year we are hoping for a better yield. Farmers are also facing the issue of unfair pricing and all the supposed benefits that come with the GI Tag haven’t materialised yet,” said Langar, who is also a local union leader.
Though, the farmers deserve better, for now they are content with accepting what their fortunes offer them.