Ratnagiri, October 5: The king of mangoes, Alphonso, well known as ‘Hapus’ in Maharashtra has finally got a Geographical Indication (GI) Tag. Alphonso Mango from Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and other adjoining areas in Maharashtra have made it to the GI Tag list. A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. Such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to its origin in that defined geographical locality. With 'Food-on-Track' App, Get Fresh Alphonso Mangoes Delivered at Your Train Seat.

Apart from Alphonsos, Darjeeling Tea, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Banarasi Sarees and Tirupati Laddus are some of the GIs. It must be noted that the first product to get a GI tag in India was the Darjeeling tea in 2004. Meanwhile, there are a total of 325 products from India that carry this indication.

GI products can benefit the rural economy in remote areas, by supplementing the incomes of artisans, farmers, weavers and craftsmen. Our rural artisans possess unique skills and knowledge of traditional practices and methods, passed down from generation to generation, which needs to be protected and promoted. Kohitur Mango, Which Sells at Rs 1500 a Piece, Should be Accorded GI Tag: West Bengal Government. 

Alphonso is in demand in domestic and international markets not only for its taste but also for pleasant fragrance and vibrant colour. It has long been one of the world's most popular fruit and is exported to various countries including Japan, Korea and Europe. New markets such as USA and Australia have recently opened up, a government release stated.

Suresh Prabhu, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry had recently launched the logo and tagline for the Geographical Indications (GI) of India and said that the GI will give the rightful share of the intellectual property to the artisan and the place of origin of the product. Prabhu had emphasised that it’s an area of strength and optimism for India, whereby GI tag has given protection to a large number of hand-made and manufactured products, especially in the informal sector.

A government release states that the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has taken several initiatives in this regard and is actively involved in promotion and marketing of GIs with a vision to enhance the horizon both socially and economically for GI producers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 05, 2018 07:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).