Utilization of Pulses – Value Addition and Product Development

Abstract

Consumer awareness of health, quality of food and healthy nutrition 
options, and convenience and ready to eat (RTE) food products is growing.
Access to affordable good quality protein delivered in a convenient format,
especially for the vegetarian population in the SAARC countries, is a major
need to be addressed in order to ensure nutritional security. Pulses are a rich
source of protein and also have documented proof of their beneficial micronutrient,
bioactive
and
functional
properties (Philanto
and Korhonen,
2003).
Today
in the SAARC countries the large
population of youth, growing

middle
class and urban working
women;
are all demanding global/cross
regional
cuisines right at their doorsteps with the need for delivering
health
and
wellness. This
important trend in the SAARC countries is what the
policy
makers
and industry needs to take
into consideration towards
promoting
utilization of pulses through value
addition