Post-harvest profile of red gram - Agmarknet

Processing of Red gram is generally known as Dal milling or dehulling. Milling meansremoval of the outer husk and splitting the grain into two equal halves. Dal milling is one of themajor food processing industries in the country, next to rice milling. The efficiency ofconversion of grain to Dal by traditional methods of milling is low and the resultant productespecially that from the wet method is inferior in cooking quality. The average Dal yield variesfrom 68-75 percent (theoretical value 85 percent), i.e. a net loss of 10-17 percent during theconversion of Red gram into finished Dal by traditional methods.In modernizing the Dal milling industry, the Central Food Technological ResearchInstitute (CFTRI), Mysore, has recommended an improved method of Dal milling as presentedon Chart No.2 (Page No.50).9.2 Uses:The Red gram plants and seeds are used in many ways as human food, fodder, fuel,fencing materials and maintaining soil fertility. The main uses of Red gram are as follows:Dal: Decorticated split cotyledon of whole seed is called Dal. Redgram is consumed mainly as Dal in India. Red gram Dal is astaple food and is an important ingredient of diet of Indian people.It is also consumed as Dal in other South Asian countries, inTanzania and Uganda in Africa.Whole dry seed: Whole dry seed is boiled and consumed inEastern Africa, the West Indies and Indonesia. It is also consumedin Myanmar.Roasted and puffed seed: Roasted and puffed seeds are consumed in India.Green (Immature) seed: Used as vegetable in parts of India (mainly in Gujarat), also inCaribbean countries, in Latin American countries and East Southern Africa.Young pods: Very young pods before the seed formation cooked like beans in curriesare consumed in parts of India, Java and U.K.Seed purpose: Generally, farmers retain a part of his produce for seed purpose forsowing in next season.Animal feed: The green leaves and tops of plants are used as animal feed in South Asia,Africa and Caribbean countries. The by-product of seed coats, broken bits and powderfrom Dal mills form a valuable protein source of dairy animals. Cracked and shrivelledseeds are also used as animal feed. The husk of pods and leaves obtained duringthreshing constitute a valuable cattle feed.Fuel purpose: The dry stem of the plant and dry leaves are used as fuel for cooking bythe poor population in rural India.Fencing purpose: The dry stalks of the plant is used in fencing and in basket making.Lac culture: In China and Myanmar, the crop is also grown to culture the lac producinginsects.To improve soil fertility: Rhizobium bacteria are present in the root nodules of Redgram. The Red gram crop fixes atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic association withRhizobium bacteria and maintains the soil fertility.55