Chitrakoot
Arhar dal grown in Bundelkhand region is soon going to get a new identity in the international market. The process of giving it Geographical Indication (GI) tag has started. Agriculture Department officials believe that after getting the GI tag, farmers will get better prices, which will double their income.
New record of pigeon pea cultivation made in 4 districts
Four districts of Chitrakootdham division in Bundelkhand – Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda and Chitrakoot – have become a major center for the production of pigeon pea pulses. The area under cultivation here is continuously increasing every year. This year, pigeon pea has been cultivated in a total area of 68,453 hectares in these four districts, which is a new record. In this, arhar has been cultivated on 19,150 hectares in Hamirpur, 4,376 hectares in Mahoba, 24,795 hectares in Banda and 20,132 hectares in Chitrakoot.
Farmers brightened their luck after the Corona period
After the Corona epidemic, farmers of the area focused on pigeon pea cultivation and strengthened their economic position through better production. In the last few years, the area under cultivation in these districts has increased rapidly. While in the year 2021, pigeon pea was cultivated in a total of 52,888 hectares, this year this figure has reached 68,453 hectares.
GI tag will open the way to international market
Deputy Agriculture Director Vijay Kumar said that efforts are being made at the highest level to get GI tag for Arhar dal of Bundelkhand. Under this process, farming survey will also be conducted using GPS technology. After getting the GI tag, arhar dal will get a new identity in the international market and farmers will get better prices for selling the dal.
The fate of thousands of farmers will change
More than 19,000 farmers cultivate pigeon pea in Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda and Chitrakoot districts. After getting the GI tag, not only will the income of these farmers increase, but this area will also become famous for pulse production at the international level.
