Government promoting cultivation of three new drought-resistant varieties of khesari dal

NEW DELHI: Concerned over lower production of pulses in view of two successive years of rain deficit, the government today said it is promoting cultivation of three drought-resistant new varieties of khesari dal, with low neurotoxin ODAP content, in traditional areas.

Since 1961, the sale and storage of khesari dal has been banned due to higher presence of harmful chemical called ODAP (Beta-N-oxalyl-a,Beta-diaminopropionic acid), which causes an irreversible motor neuro disorder called neurolathyrism.

However, the food safety regulator FSSAI has sought Health Ministry's approval to hold public consultation on approval of three new khesari dal varieties -- Ratan, Prateek and Mahateara -- having low ODAP.

"These three varieties have been released for general cultivation in traditional Khesari growing areas of the country. ICAR is trying to replace the traditional high ODAP containing varieties of Khesari with its improved varieties," Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said in a statement.

Ratan, Prateek and Mahateara varieties of khesari dal have been developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities between 1995 and 2008.

"These varieties have ODAP content in the range of 0.07- 0.1 per cent, which is safe for human consumption," Singh said adding that this crop is used as dal for human consumption and also as green fodder for livestock.

Because of its hardy nature, it is best suited for moisture stress conditions and requires less inputs except quality seed and can be successfully grown under paira (relay) cropping in rice fallow situation, he added.

Earlier in the day, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan favoured lifting the ban on Khesari dal if found fit for human consumption, saying that allowing its cultivation will help reduce pressure on pulses imports.

"I read in newspapers that three new varieties of khesari dal have been developed. If these varieties prove to be fit for human consumption, I think its cultivation should be allowed. This will help reduce stress on pulses production and imports," Paswan told reporters here.

The Minister said he himself has eaten khesari dal for 15 years and never had any health problems.

"Khesari dal tastes good and it can be grown easily with less expense. It is grown mainly in north India," he said.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, khesari or Grass pea is an important rabi pulse crop, mainly cultivated in Madya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Bihar and West Bengal in about 4-5 lakh hectare area.

The average yield is 650 to 700 kg per hectare and production is about 2.8 to 3.5 lakh tonnes. Till the decade of 1980, it was being cultivated in about 10 lakh hectare, the statement said.

Faced with deficit rains back-to-back years, the government is under pressure to increase pulses production and ensure retail dal prices do not flare up again this year.

The country's pulses production is stagnant at 17-18 million tonnes and imports 4-5 million tonnes to meet the gap.