Yes. Most Indian pulse processors can clean, grade by size, colour-sort and polish pulses, and many can split and dehusk them too. What you get depends on the plant's machines and on how clearly you write the spec.
Do not assume a step is done because it is common. Name each process, the result you expect and how it will be checked.
The usual processing steps
- Pre-cleaning: sieves and aspirators remove dust, straw, light seeds and large foreign matter. This is the step most plants have, so it tells you little on its own.
- De-stoning: a de-stoner or gravity table removes stones and mud balls of similar size.
- Size grading: screens separate the lot into size grades, which matters for chickpeas and some beans.
- Gravity separation: removes light, shrivelled or insect-hollowed seeds.
- Colour sorting: an optical sorter removes discoloured, damaged and off-colour seeds. See what sortex cleaning is for pulses and millets.
- Dehusking and splitting: for dal products such as split tur, moong or urad.
- Polishing: a final pass that gives the surface a uniform shine.
About polishing
Polishing is common for split pulses sold in South Asian markets, where buyers expect a glossy look. It is usually done with water or a small amount of edible oil in a polishing machine. Some markets and buyers prefer unpolished pulses. Polishing improves the look but can hide dull, older or lower-grade seed, so judge the lot on its defects, not its shine.
If you allow polishing, state the agent. Require food-grade edible oil or water only, and ask the supplier to declare which oil is used. Some importing countries require additives or coatings to be declared on the label, so check your own labelling rules. If you want no polishing, write "unpolished" in the spec.
Writing the spec
The general method is in how to write a good specification for an agri product. Figures in the spec depend on product, grade, use and your market, so treat any supplier's standard sheet as a starting point only.
- Product, variety or type, crop year and origin.
- Processing required: machine-cleaned, sortex-cleaned, size-graded, polished or unpolished.
- Maximum foreign matter, other seeds, damaged and discoloured seeds, broken pieces and weevilled seeds.
- Maximum moisture, and any limits for residues and contaminants your market requires.
- Size range or count where relevant.
- Packing, marking and loading requirements.
Check the plant can do it
A trader may promise every step and then buy cleaned stock from someone else. Ask to see the cleaning line, the sorter and the polisher in operation. A factory visit tells you more than a brochure. See what a factory audit should contain.
How we help
We audit the processing line, confirm which machines are used for your lot and check the finished product against your spec at an NABL-accredited lab. To agree a spec with a capable processor, ask for a free sourcing review.