Kandhamal Haldi Gets Geographical Indication Tag

Kandhamal Haldi or turmeric named after central Odisha district of Kandhamal, where it is grown organically by tribals has received the Geographical Indications (GI) tag last week.

Secretary of Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for Marketing (KASAM), Sanjit Patnaik said, “We got the final certificate for GI tag from the Geographical Indications Registry office through mail on 1^st April 2019. The certificate is a big achievement for the tribals of Kandhamal and this will help in marketing of the turmeric to a bigger audience”.

KASAM is a society of tribal turmeric farmers of Kandhamal district. The Central Tool Room and Training Centre under the Ministry of MSME had filed the application on behalf of KASAM in January 2018.

In November 2018, the Registrar of Geographical of India had promoted Kandhamal Haldi for being eligible for GI tag in the Geographical Indications journal. Then the Registrar gave a notice to public under Rule 41(1) of Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002. Since there was no objection to Kandhamal Haldi getting GI tag, the Registrar finished the process on 30^th March.

The Geographical Indication tag is basically used to recognize agricultural, natural or manufactured goods originating in a particular region. The Kandhamal turmeric has been placed under Class-30 type.

The GI tag for Kandhamal haldi comes a year after Odisha lost the fight for GI tag of Rasagola, the famous spongy sweet to Bengal.

Grown organically, Kandhamal turmeric is used as main ingredient for making beauty cream, beauty soap, medicinal soap because of its high antimicrobial & anti‐inflammatory property. The Kandhamal turmeric leaf is primarily used in an Odia cuisine named “Enduri Pitha” that gives a strong flavour and taste to the dish.

Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for Marketing that began in September 1998 has more than 12000 farmers of district as its members. It sells the organic turmeric, the main cash crop of poor tribal growers of the district. Yearly about 16,000 hectare area is covered by organic haldi by nearly 60,000 farmers with an annual output of 40,000 metric tonne.

Odisha so far has received GI tag for 15 items that includes 2 agricultural products. The products are Odisha Ikat saree, Kotpad’s handloom fabric, Pipili appliqué, Khandua, Gopalpur’s Tussar cloth, Pattachitra, Konark stone work, Bamkei Saree, Habaspur saree, Sambalpur Bandhasaree, Brahmapur Pattasaree and Joda & Ganjam’s Ketaki flower.