The Jharkhand Tribal Development Society (JTDS) is all set to brand and market Lobia (black eyed peas) cultivated by particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) families of the State. The grains will be branded as ‘Aadi Bean-The Taste of Jharkhand’ and sold at various supermarkets of the State by the end of this year.
Lobia, locally known as Barbatti, has been a major source of livelihood for the PVTG families living in the hilly terrains in the interior of the State. However, due to lack of proper guidance and involvement of middlemen, the farmers are unable to earn much by selling the small amount of grain they are left over with after saving some for the family’s consumption.
State project director (SPD) at JTDS, Bhujendra Baski informed that in 2018, the society worked with 4000 families in Santhal Pargana and trained them on proper techniques of growing Lobia. The farmers were informed about the distance needed to be left between two plants and use of organic fertilizers among other farming techniques.
“This year we are working with 8000 families. The sowing of crops will begin in the last week of August and harvesting will be done by December after which we will start marketing the grains. We have already received a green signal from the State Welfare Department to launch the Aadi Bean brand,” he said.
Baski informed that JTDS will try to tie up with supermarkets like Reliance, Big Bazaar and others for selling the branded lobia in their stores across Jharkhand.
“The lobia produced by the PVTG farmers are completely organic as chemical fertilizers have not reached the interior areas of the State yet and we are also promoting neem based fertilizers in the area to kill pests in the crop,” he said.
After intervention of JTDS in 2018, the production of Lobia increased from 320 to 480 tonnes, thus increasing the production by 50 percent. Also, the grain, which farmers earlier sold at Rs 40 per kg to middlemen, was sold at Rs 60 per kg in 2018, thus increasing the total amount earned by farmers from Rs. 128 lakh to Rs 288 lakh, increasing the revenue by Rs 160 lakh. Also, the society saved seeds to distribute among farmers this year for sowing.
Baski said, “We had the plans of branding the beans last year but the plan could not take off as the production was not sufficient and the farmers were unsure whether they will be able to make as much money as we claimed.
However, this year we have gained the confidence of farmers and they are eager to work with us.
Also, the number of families involved in the project has been doubled so the production will also be much higher.”