History
Lentils go as back as 13,000 years (we know this from cave excavations in Greece and Morocco).
All the our current colorful and diverse cooking lentils (lens culinaris) varieties descended from a one wild middle-east strain (lens orientalis).
Lentils cultivation moved from middle east to Egypt and Central Europe. In Bronze age, they moved to India and the Mediterranean.
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Lentil Farming
Today, lentil are mostly grown in areas with little humidity and mostly barren soil.
Lentil farming: Lentils grow in dry regions where there is no water facility
My note: Would farmers grow lentil or have grown lentils in the past if proper irrigation facility was available to them.
Lentil farming: Doesn't grow so well in fertile soil. Because humidity and fertile soil lead to growth of too many leaves and too few seeds (i.e. lentils).
Hence, lentils are part of dry regions and dry seasons.
Rust disease (fungus disease that looks like rust on leaves): Outbreak of rust in Ethiopia has destroyed thousands of hectares of crop.
Lentil Scientist in Ethiopia: Says that's why both yield and disease resistance are equally important when developing new breeds.
Nitrogen fixing bacteria - grow at the roots of lentil plants. These bacteria take nitrogen from the air and concentrate it in their root nodules. This trait is especially useful for peasant farmers who cannot use artificial fertilizers. The nitrogen acts as a natural fertilizer. The nitrogen usually amounts to 90 kgs per hectare.
Saskatchewan, Canada: This improvement in soil is the reason why farmers in Saskatchewan, Canada have introduced the crop in 1970s. Lentils are grown once in 4 years. Lentils are planted in those fields that would remain fallow for an entire year.
Even though lentils are not consumed in Canada. Saskatchewan has become the lentil treasury of the world. In 2016, the regions farmers harvested 3.2 million tonnes of lentils worth almost EUR 2 billion, almost entirely for the purpose of export. More than half the world's traded lentils are from Saskatchewan.
But why did Saskatchewan flourish in lentil growing?
Because lentil farmers came together, funded good scientists who developed good breeds - which give higher yields as well as harvest-able by machines. Scientists produced breeds that ensure there are no weeds. Farmers worldwide spend significant time and effort in attending to the weeds.
My note: Canada may be supplying most of the lentils we are eating in India. Also, note that EUR 2 billion is a significant number.
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Lentil as food
As Saskatchewan, Canada farmer says that although lentils are not consumed in Canada, lentils are 'a cheaper source of protein'.
My note: Have lentils begun to be used as food because they are 'cheap' relative to 'meat'?
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Nutrient source
Lentils when de-husked and cooked contain about 25% protein. The only lentil to contain more protein is soybean. Others like peas and beans fall short.
Lentils are rich in fiber, minerals, trace minerals and vitamins.
Minerals - Magnesium, Phosphorous, Iron
Trace Minerals - Zinc, Selenium
Vitamins - Folic acid, Vitamin B6, Thiamine
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From the video below: Over the last 40 years, world population has gone up by 80%. In the same time, lentil consumption has gone up by 350%.
My note: Is the dramatic increase in lentil consumption the cause of increase in many diseases over the last 40 years?
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From the video below: In India, lentils are mostly eaten without the outer cover.
My note: Is eating without the outer cover and without fermenting the cause of many diseases? (From another place in the video below, it says, the out cover has lot of amino acids). But we also know that generally outer cover of grains is very difficult to digest. Eating outer cover could irritate the gut. But outer cover is required for fermentation process e.g. in Idli batter making, blackgram (minapa-pappu) is fermented overnight with the outer cover. Without the outer cover, idly batter fermentation does not happen properly.
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From the video below (This is mentioned by one of the world's top lentil scientist/breeder from Canada): In Ethiopia, bride and groom are fed lentils for one week before marriage because of the lentils' sexual powers.
Similarly, in Sri Lanka, where no lentils are grown, lentils are eaten before marriage.
Similarly in North India, lentils are know for their increasing sexual powers.
My Note: Even in Andhra, minapa-Sunnundalu (sweet dish made with powdered black gram and ghee) are eaten by newly married couples and pregnant women.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztNKrvr3hzQ
