What’s Required to Get a GI Tag? Rahul Prakash Explains at KJ Chaupal

With the Mithila Makhana successfully winning a GI Tag, the prestigious yet rare award has become the talk of the town. Recently, the India GI Fair (IGIF) 2022 showcased the heritage of India from 26-28 August 2022 at the India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.

India GI Fair participants, Director of Amalfarm Solutions Private Limited, Rahul Prakash, Jerin Baby, Designated Partner, Spice Shuttle Exim LLP, and Tony Joy, Managing Partner, Spice shuttle Exim LLP, Unnikrishnan and Sashi from Wayanad Gandhakasala Rice Association visited today’s KJ Chaupal session at Krishi Jagran headquarters, New Delhi to speak about GI Tags.

Rahul Prakash, Director of Amalfarm Solutions Private Limited talked about his own journey from working at INFOSYS to starting his own business- Amalfarm Solutions Private Limited. Talking about why over 100 GI Tag applications are yet to be approved, Rahul clarified that in the case of Mithila Makhana, it took so long to get the approval because the name was disputed for a long time. 

In the application sent for approval, the name was written as Bihar Makhana initially, however, since only five districts in the Mithilanchan area grow makhana, it should be called Mithila Makhana. So, the first criterion is that the item should belong to the region that is growing the crop traditionally and is specific to them only.

A lot of the applications might not be following the criteria that are needed to be ticked to be awarded the GI Tag and hence, the delay.

Unnikrishnan from Wayanad Gandhakasala Rice Association urged farmers who have a longstanding family tradition of farming should continue doing so. Taking his own family’s example, he explained that although it is not profitable, it is something that families with commitment and dedication to agriculture do.

He also busted the myth that water used for rice cultivation goes to waste by stating the fact that the water in paddy fields is absorbed by the earth, recharging the groundwater level.