Dried Lentil from India

History

Lentils have been cultivated in India since ancient times, integral to South Asian cuisine and religious traditions. Over time, improved high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties have been introduced, especially during the Green Revolution and post-2000s efforts to reduce import dependence.

Production Regions

• Madhya Pradesh: Largest producing state, accounts for nearly 40% of total output.
• Uttar Pradesh: Major traditional lentil-growing belt.
• Bihar and West Bengal: Significant contributors with favorable soil and climate.
• Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra: Emerging areas in pulse diversification programs.

Growing Conditions

• Altitude: Grown from plains up to 1,000 m.
• Climate: Grown in rabi (winter) season; thrives in cool, dry weather.
• Soils: Alluvial and loamy soils; slightly alkaline preferred.
• Irrigation: Mostly rainfed, with supplementary irrigation in some regions.
• Crop Cycle: 100 to 110 days; sown in November, harvested in March–April.

Harvesting Process

• Harvesting: Manual and semi-mechanized; plants are uprooted and dried in fields.
• Drying Methods: Sun-dried on tarpaulins or open grounds.
• Moisture Target: Below 12% for safe storage and milling.

Cultivation Methods

• Farming Structure: Predominantly smallholders and marginal farmers.
• Crop Rotation: Often rotated with rice, maize, or chickpeas.
• Input Use: Minimal fertilizer; organic practices common in certain regions.
• Pest Management: Challenges include wilt, aphids, and pod borers.

Supply Chain

• Producers: Millions of small-scale farmers.
• Aggregators: Middlemen and mandis (agricultural markets) dominate procurement.
• Millers: Lentils are cleaned, split, polished, and bagged by regional mills.
• Exporters: Limited; only surplus is exported in select years.

Local Logistics

• Transport: Trucks from farms to local markets and mills.
• Export Ports: Mumbai (Nhava Sheva), Kolkata, and Chennai for bulk/containerized shipments.

Regulations and Certifications

• Regulatory Bodies: APEDA, FSSAI, Ministry of Agriculture.
• Certifications: Organic, Non-GMO, Halal, and GlobalG.A.P. where applicable.

Quality Standards

• Moisture Content: <12% preferred.
• Defect Allowance: Graded based on color, size uniformity, and split ratio.
• Grading: No national standard, but APEDA and millers follow commercial specifications.

Trade Terms

• Exports (2023): Modest; mainly to Sri Lanka, UAE, and Nepal.
• HS Code: 0713.40 (Dried lentils).
• Top Export Markets: Sri Lanka, UAE, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Mauritius.

Environmental Impact

• Pesticide Use: Low; integrated pest management promoted.
• Water Use: Very low, ideal for rainfed zones.
• Land Use: Supports soil enrichment through nitrogen fixation.

Social Impact

• Rural Employment: High engagement, especially for women in harvesting and processing.
• Food Security: Essential for protein intake among low-income households.
• Farmer Income: Government MSP (minimum support price) ensures baseline income in some states.

Uses:

• Domestic Use: Red lentils consumed as dal (soups), curries, and flour in snacks.
• Industrial Use: Lentil flour used in extruded snacks, soups, and bakery blends. 
• Export: Split and whole lentils, mostly in processed and bagged forms.