According to the commerce ministry there are quite a few GI-tagged products in different states that need appropriate marketing to reach more potential buyers in international markets.
The ministry said that to promote exports of locally tagged agricultural products, the government is identifying new products and export destinations. The government, through the Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA), has been facilitating trial shipments of certain products into new markets. The products include Kala Namak rice, Naga Mircha, Bangalore Rose Onion, Shahi Litchi, Bhalia wheat, Dahanu Gholvad Sapota, Jalgaon Banana, Vazhakulam Pineapple, and Marayoor Jaggery.
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 carries a guarantee of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributed to its origin in that defined geographical territory.
Some of the GIs are Darjeeling Tea, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Banarasi Saree, and Tirupati Laddu.
While Darjeeling Tea and Basmati Rice are the two popular GI-tagged agricultural products in India, which have ready markets across the globe, there are a host of GI-tagged products in various corners of the country that have niche but loyal customers and need to be marketed properly to reach more potential buyers, the ministry said.
As of date, there are 417 registered GI products. Of those, around 150 are agricultural and food products. Notable shipments of GI products in 2021 included the export of Naga Mircha (King Chilli) from Nagaland to the UK; black rice from Manipur and Assam to Britain; and Assam Lemon to the UK and Italy.