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Gir Kesar Mango earns GI tag, improves prospects of prices and exports
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Saturday, 06 August, 2011, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Anurag More, Mumbai
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Gujarat's famous Gir Kesar Mango has earned the rare distinction of a GI (Geographical Indicator) tag.
The tag, GI No.185, was received in July 2011. Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, in collaboration with Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd, Ahmedabad, applied on January 8, 2010, for GI registration to the Geographical Indication's Registry in Chennai.
The tag is only for 10 years. "But it may be renewed from time to time in accordance with the provision of Act 1999, Section S-17," said N C Patel, vice-chancellor, Junagadh Agricultural University.
It will be renewed subsequently.
"The GI tag is likely to help obtain good market prices & improve the scope for export of Gir Kesar Mango of Junagadh and Amreli districts and ultimately improve the socio-economic condition of mango-growers," adds Patel.
GI in relation to agricultural goods originating in the territory of the country, or a region or locality in the territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristics of such goods is attributable to its geographical origin takes place in such territory, region or locality, as the case may be. It includes any name, geographical or figurative representation or any combination of them conveying or suggesting the geographical origin of goods to which it applies.
The Gir Kesar Mango is grown in specific geographical region around Gir forest in Junagadh and Amreli districts. It is grown in various talukas /viz/ Junagadh, Vanthli, Mendarda, Talala, Maliya, Kodinar, Una and Visavadar of Junagadh district and Dhari and Khambha talukas of Amreli district. The total area under Gir Kesar Mango cultivation is 0.22 lakh
ha with around 1.69 lakh tones production of mango.
The mango fruit was first appreciated by Shaikh of Vanthali and named as "sale bhai ni ambadi." Shaikh had arranged to propagate the grafts from its mother tree and planted to adjoining area of the region. After some period, it was also planted by Ayengar, the horticulturist of Junagadh state to Sakkar Bag and Lal Dhori Gardens of Junagadh which are now under Junagadh Agricultural University. Ayengar also evaluated the "sale bhai ni ambadi" scientifically and observed the changes in pulp colour with reduced length of beak.
He found saffron-coloured pulp of mango after ripening and for that reason, on May 25, 1934, Nawab (Babi Mahobat Khan) of Junagadh after having observed and tasted the qualities gave the name Kesar instead of "sale bhai ni ambadi." The Kesar variety of mango subsequently became popular in the farming community of different regions. Subsequently, Ayenger had travelled throughout India as well as surrounding countries like Ceylon, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong as well as China up to 1938 to find out the better quality of mango.
He reported that the mangoes of above countries were not having the colour and taste as that of Kesar Mango. During the 3 years of his study tour, he had spent Rs 1,475 and 12 Anna from the Junagadh state as reported by him on July 10, 1938.
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