hilal bhat
It is a moment of pride for all J&K to learn that the exceptionally famous Badarwahi Rajma of Doda and Sulai Honey of district Ramban have earned the coveted GI tags , which takes the total number of GI tags to 17 in J&K.This is after Kashmiri Saffron ( Crocus Sativus ) have already been granted the GI Tag.( GI ) tag is the geographical indication certificate issued by GOI as per the geographical indications of goods and products ( registration and protection ) Act ,1999.It is issued by the geographical indication registry under the Department of Industry , Promotion and Internal Trade , Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The tag confers legal protection to the product and serves as a form of intellectual property right. It is a trademark serving as a testament to the unique qualities and characteristics of the local specialties and open up the doors for their promotion and recognition in the international market. Moreover , it authenticates the product , preserves it’s quality and ethnicity , thereby stopping adulteration , copy branding and misuse by a third party.The products encompass qualities or a reputation that is due to that region.In J&K GI tag is facilitated by Mountain Research Centre For Field Crops ( MRCFC ) SKUAST , Department Of Agriculture and farmers Welfare , Government Of Jammu and Kashmir, and National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development ( NABARD).GI tag secures the identity of a product to its specific geographical region of origin.To put it simply , no other region or place can claim the production or sell the same product on the same name.
GI tag was implemented in India on 15 Sep 2003.Darjeeling Tea ( the champagne of teas ) from West Bengal was the first product to get the Geographical Indication ( GI ) tag in India , in October 2004.In J&K Basohli painting of Kuthua district happened to be the first of all to earn a GI tag.As of now the total number of GI tags in India have gone to 430.South Indian state Tamil Nadu has got the highest number of GI tags in India , 55 of them.The other highest ranked states are Karnataka , Kerala and Utar Pradesh.Baderwah Rajma , the cultural symbol of district Doda , often referred to as Red Kidney beans , is the pride of Chenab valley.More than being a staple food , the legume holds a special place in the hearts and plates of people of J&K due to its distinctive flavour and texture.Badarwah town is called chota Kashmir due to its scenic beauty and is referred to as Kerala due to its high literacy rate.Sulai honey , a remarkable product of district Ramban , is famous for its exquisite taste and organic nature.Infact honourable PM of India , Shri Narendra Modi presented organic Sulai Honey to Queen Elizabeth on his visit to Britain in 2015.
Kashmiri Saffron faced a tough competition by Irani saffron.Our saffron is the only one in the world that is grown at an altitude of 1600 meters , which adds to its uniqueness and differentiates it from other varieties due to its unique characteristics like longer and thicker stigma , natural deep-red colour , high aroma , bitter flavour ,chemical free processing and high quality colour strength.GI tagging of Kashmiri Saffron restored it’s glory and it is now directly exported to the international markets like England , USA , Dubai etc.Among others the aromatic rice ( Mushqbudji ) is the notable product of kashmir which is GI tagged.It is mainly grown in Sagam , Panzgam and soaf Shali belt of Anantnag , Beerwa belt of Budgam and in distric Kulgam.The other products which have got GI tags in J&K are Kani Shawl , Kashmiri Pashmina , Kashmir Sozani Craft , Kashmir Paper Machie , Kashmir Walnut wood carving , Khatamband , Basmati Rice , Kashmiri Hand knotted Carpet , Chikri wood of Rajouri , Raktsey Karpo Apricot of Ladakh , Pashmina wool of Ladakh , and Ladakh Shingskos ( wood carving ).Infact there are lot of other varieties and products which we wish to get GI tags in near future, that include Lotus Stem ( Nadru ) , Redd ( Zagg ) Rice, Waggu , Kashmiri long red chilli , Goshtaba , Kashmiri Haakh , Namda , Gabba , Anar Dana , and offcourse Kangdi etc.Some other notable GI tagged products in India are , Banarasi Pan of utter Pradesh , Khola Chilli of Goa , Bird’s Eye chilli of Mizoram , Kangra Tea of Himachal Pradesh , Sojat Mehendi of Rajistan , Kachai lemon and Black Rice of Manipur , Nanjangud Banana and Mysore Silk of Karnataka , Bangaluru blue grapes , and Dindigul locks of Tamil Nadu.
GI Tagging is 100% Farmer and Artist friendly. It encourages quality production , and increases market value of the products thereby eliminating fraudulent and mischievous practices of production and marketing which develops a healthy competition among the producers. Moreover, the particular regions of production will get internationally recognised as all GI tags will be available on internet. Goods and products will acquire more prominence in the export market and will offer best remuneration prices to farmers. This will boost rural economy which will prove a game changer for socio-economic development of J&K and INDIA.
Hilal Ahmad Bhat ( Biotech ) is working as a Government Teacher in the Department of School Education Kashmir and is currently working at the establishment of Chief Education Officer Budgam.He can be mailed at biotechilal@gmail.com.
