Geographical Indication Tag (GI tag)

Geographical Indication Tag (GI tag)

Why in news :

• Recently five agricultural products of Kerala have been granted Geographical Indication (GI) status.
• They are
  1. Attappady Attukombu Avara (beans),
  2. Attappady Thuvara (red gram),
  3. Onattukara Ellu (sesame),
  4. Kanthalloor-Vattavada Veluthulli (garlic),
  5. Kodungalloor Pottuvellari (snap melon)

• The basis of granting the GI tag to the above products is the unique features of the products, imparted by the agro­climatic conditions of the geographical area of their production.
• With the latest five GIs,17 agricultural products of Kerala facilitated by Kerala Agricultural University have received the GI status.

Attappady Attukombu Avara :

• cultivated in the Attappady region of Palakkad, is curved like a goat’s horn.
• Its higher anthocyanin content, compared to other dolichos beans, imparts violet colour in the stem and fruits.

Attappady Thuvara :

• It has seeds with white coat.
• These are bigger and have higher seed weight than the regular variety.

Kanthalloor-Vattavada Veluthulli :

• Compared to other Garlics, it contains higher amount of sulphides, flavonoids, and proteins.

Onattukara Ellu :

• The sesame and its oil are famous for its unique health benefits.
• It has Relatively higher antioxidant content which helps in fighting the free radicals which destroy the body cells.

Kodungalloor Pottuvellari :

• It is cultivated in Kodungalloor and parts of Ernakulam.
• It is consumed as juice and in other forms.
• This snap melon, which is harvested in summer, is excellent for quenching thirst.

Syllabus : Prelims