NEWS – The Karnataka State Pulses Development Board is expanding its operations for the ‘Bhima Pulse’ brand of tur dal with focus on establishing own processing units in Kalaburagi.

HIGHLIGHTS

Objectives and Targets

• Target: Sell 900 metric tonnes (MT) of tur dal at competitive prices nationwide this year.
• Previous Year: Sold only 18 tonnes of tur dal under the Bhima Pulse brand.

Infrastructure Development

• Construction of processing infrastructure nearing completion at Kotnur (D) village.
• Aim to protect farmers from price fluctuations and middlemen.

Product and Pricing Strategy

• Introduction of 2-kg, 5-kg, and 30-kg packets in addition to the current 1-kg packets.
• Competitive pricing to challenge private brands.
• Expected selling price: Rs 200 per kg post-infrastructure completion, compared to Rs 260-280 per kg for private brands.

Market Conditions

• Current retail prices: Rs 180-200 per kg due to crop losses from drought, floods, and disease.
• Historical context: Prices were around Rs 110 per kg two years ago.
• Tur dal’s unique qualities: Rich in calcium and potassium, high nutritional value, and unique taste.

Farmer and Consumer Benefits

• Direct purchase to ensure fair prices for farmers.
• Elimination of middlemen to save costs for both farmers and consumers.
• Immediate payment for farmers to encourage large-scale sales to the board.

Agricultural Expansion

• Significant increase in tur dal cultivation in Kalaburagi:
  • From around two lakh hectares to over six lakh hectares in the past 15 years.
  • Current year’s target: Sowing tur dal in 6 lakh hectares out of 8.69 lakh hectares.
  • Estimated production: 5.5 lakh MT.

Future Plans and Benefits

• Plan to process at least one MT of tur dal per hour once the unit is operational.
• Use of farmer producer organizations for large-scale crop purchases.
• Goal: Provide better rates to farmers and consumers, popularize the Kalaburagi brand.