Dehradun : Rajma grown in Jaunsar-Bawar tribal area of Dehradun district of Uttarakhand, especially Chakrata, is famous in the country and abroad for its unique quality and excellent taste. Due to its special colour, it is also called ‘Surkh Rajma’. For centuries, Rajma has been an important part of the traditional farming, food and culture of the local people. There is a huge demand for this Rajma in states like UP, Haryana and Delhi, but the cultivation of Rajma is continuously decreasing in the hilly areas.
Farmer Narendra Sharma of Kalsi area of Chakrata says that the farmers of Jaunsar-Bawar have always cultivated kidney beans in organic and natural ways for generations. This is the reason why Chakrata Rajma is small in size, red in color and very soft. After cooking, it melts quickly and dissolves as soon as it is put in the mouth. This specialty makes it popular not only in Uttarakhand but in many parts of the country.
Can get GI tag
Narendra Kumar told that there is a possibility of Chakrata Rajma getting GI tag this time, but the irony is that farmers are moving away from its cultivation, due to which the production is continuously decreasing. Its special identity is related to the hilly climate, organic agriculture and local soil, which makes it completely different from the kidney beans of the plains.
Why is Chakrata Rajma special?
Narendra explains that the taste of Chakrata kidney beans is much more distinct than other kidney beans. After ripening its aroma spreads far. Grown completely naturally, without any chemical fertilizers, this kidney bean is rich in protein and medicinal properties. In hilly areas, it is consumed extensively in winter to provide energy and warmth to the body. Rajma is sown in June and it becomes ready in the cold season. Chakrata’s altitude, cool weather and sandy-loamy soil with pH 6.0 to 7.0 are very suitable for its cultivation. It is produced well in villages like Bangaon, Uprauli, Athgaon, Dwar, Bishlad, Baunandur, Taplad, Bharam and Mashak of Jaunsar-Bawar.
Rajma cultivation is decreasing
Rajma is cultivated in many areas of Uttarakhand, but Chakrata’s Rajma is different. There is huge demand for it in states like UP, Haryana and Delhi, but farming is continuously shrinking. Whereas in the year 2014 it was cultivated on 1101 hectares of land, now it has reduced to about 981 hectares. There are many reasons responsible behind this.
These are the main 5 reasons
- In hilly areas, farms are small and scattered, lack of consolidation makes farming and crop management difficult.
- The biggest problem is access to the market. Transporting kidney beans from the mountains to the plain markets is an expensive and time-consuming task.
- Lack of proper market system and procurement centers discourages farmers.
- Constant changes in temperature, irregular rains and increasing outbreak of diseases are also causing damage to the yield.
- Many times the pulses turn yellow due to disease and dry up during germination, due to which the entire crop is affected.
