Kolhapur Jaggery has got GI Tag
Since the 18th Century, Maharashtra has been well known for its jaggery production. Located in the western part of Maharashtra, Kolhapur district has been largely accepted to be the sugar capital of Maharashtra and turns out jaggery that ranks first in quality and second after Muzaffarnagar in quantity in India.
Kolhapur has wide and deep River basins and is blessed with fertile alluvial soil thus making it suitable for sugarcane production. Sugarcane seeds are conserved by the famers using traditional methods and this is one of the many other factors for the constantly sweet jaggery that is produced in this area.
Kolhapur jaggery or ‘gur’ is processed using the age-old techniques making it chemical free and completely organic. It is deliciously sweet with 80 percent sugarcane juice and 20 percent sugar. It also has prolonged shelf life as compared to jaggery produced in other parts of the country.
The alluring white and golden colour, peculiar sweetness and aroma are the distinctive features of the world famous Kolhapur jaggery which was granted the Geographical Indication Tag (GI) in 2014. It is exported in large quantities to Europe, Middle-East and parts of South-East Asia.
However it has its own share of problems so the need of the hour is to develop different types of value-added products of this organic jaggery and increase the sale by attractive packaging and also enhance the income of farmers.
What is GI Tag?
A geographical indication or GI is a sign used on products that have a specific and definite geographical origin and own qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
Geographical Indications (GI) are part of the intellectual property rights that is included under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
In India, Geographical Indications registration is regulated by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999. Geographical indications are generally used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.
The Geographical Indication Rights put a check on all the third-parties and unauthorized users or manufacturers from using the indication in the products that do not observe the applicable standards.
GI tags enhances overall economic prosperity of the manufacturers and producers. Also marketing and promotion of GI products strengthens the secondary economic activity of the region. The primary purpose of registering a geographical indication is to seek protection for particular products produced in a particular geographical region, which further inspires and motivates the marketers to expand their business at a global level. Thus in a way giving boost to exports and tourism too.
