Tandur red gram, a pigeon pea variety grown in about 3.74 lakh hectares of Telangana, has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Yalal Farmers Producer Company of Viswanathpur in Vikarabad Mandal has applied for GI recognition for this famed red gram variety, a rich source for protein.
Mostly grown in the rainfed districts of Vikarabad, Narayanpet, Sangareddy, and Adilabad in Telangana, Tandur Kandipappu (red gram) is known for its aroma and taste.
Of the 3.74 lakh ha under this variety, about 50 per cent is from the four districts of Vikarabad, Narayanpet, Sangareddy, and Adilabad districts.
Nine new GI additions
Tandur red gram is among the nine items from different parts of the country, which received the unique tag. The tag gives producers of a particular product the recognition that bars third-party producers from using the brand name.
The other products that got the GI tag included: Gamosa of Assam, RakteseyKarpo Apricot of Ladakh, and Alibag White Onion of Maharashtra. With the latest additions, the total number of products that got the GI tag has gone up to 432.
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala top the list of States that received the maximum number of GI tags.
Unique variety
“This particular variety is a lifeline for the dryland farming community in the Tandur region. It is a unique brand and has good demand,” a scientist with the Prof. Jayashankar State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) has said.
The university helped farmers prepare a case for Tandur redgram to get the GI recognition.
“It is a versatile crop and is easily adapted for different drought-prone regions .