Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination (Topic: Bhalia Wheat from Gujarat)

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Bhalia Wheat from Gujarat

In a major boost to wheat exports, the first shipment of Geographical Indication (GI) certified Bhalia variety of wheat was exported today to Kenya and Sri Lanka from Gujarat.

The Bhalia variety of wheat received GI certification in July, 2011. The registered proprietor of GI certification is Anand Agricultural University, Gujarat.
The GI certified wheat has high protein content and is sweet in taste.
The crop is grown mostly across Bhal region of Gujarat which includes Ahmadabad, Anand, Kheda, Bhavanagar, Surendranagar, Bharuch districts.
The unique characteristic of the wheat variety is that grown in the rainfed condition without irrigation and cultivated in around two lakh hectares of agricultural land in Gujarat.

This initiative is expected to give boost wheat exports from India.
In 2020-21, the wheat exports from India witnessed a significant growth of 808 % to Rs 4034 crore from Rs 444 crore reported in the previous fiscal. In US dollar terms, the wheat exports rose by 778% to $ 549 million in 2020-21.
India exported substantial quantity of grain to seven new countries - Yemen, Indonesia, Bhutan, Philippines, Iran, Cambodia and Myanmar during 2020-21.

A geographical indication (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.
GIs are part of the intellectual property rights that comes under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
In India, GI registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999.
GIs are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.
The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years. It can be renewed from time to time for a further period of 10 years each.
It is also a part of the World Trade Organisation’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
In India, APEDA has a focus on promotion of exports of GI products.

Wooden printing blocks of Pethapur, furniture made in Sankheda, agates from Khambhat, Kutch embroidery, zari craft from Surat, patola from Patan, bandhani from Jamnagar, and Kesar mangoes from Gir are other GI products from Gujarat.