Geographical Indications For Goan Products – I

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THIS is part one of an article advocating a clear state policy, plan and strategy to identify maximum number of qualifying Goan products as geographically indicated products (GIPs) for their statutory registration. It is a wake up call for the government, the trade and commercial sector, manufacturers, artisans, farmers and lawyers to do a ‘reality check’. They need to educate themselves about geographical indications. Although Goa claims to be a wealthy and literate state, we’re not even prepared to learn from the better policies and strategies from other states.

The Ministry of Commerce, Government of India has established a Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai, as per the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999. Under the Act, agricultural, natural or manufactured goods originating or manufactured in the territory of a country, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of such goods is essentially attributable to its geographical origin and in cases where such goods are manufactured goods, one of the activities of either production or of processing or preparation of the goods concerned takes place in such territory, region or locality, are registrable as geographical indications. Whether a particular product is registrable or not is determined by the Registrar of Geographical Indications, on receipt of the application.

A geographical indication is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess essential qualities that are due to that place of origin. GIP indication is used to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods from a definite region, which have a special quality or characteristics or reputation based upon the climatic or production characteristics unique to that area. A geographical indication conveys to the consumer that a product is produced in a certain place and has certain characteristics that are due to that place of production.

The former Goa secretary for industries, Mr J K Dadu who was instrumental in setting in motion the process of registering the Goan cashew feni under Geographical Indication of Goods Act, 1999, by appointing a multi-stakeholder committee of the government was also interested in identification of other Goan products with potential for getting GIP registration. The government was sensitised on the GIP issue by distiller, Mr Valentino Vaz. The GCCI also organised a seminar on GIP Act. Other socially active distillers like Mr Gurudutt Bhakta solidly contributed to prepare the application for feni’s GIP.

The Goa application was made by ‘The Goa Cashew Distillers and Bottlers Association’ on December 19, 2007 and was registered as the 120th application. It is in the final stage of examination before the registration could be granted. The state government moved slow but even that was a welcome change. But the work of the state government would not get over after celebrating cashew feni’s GIP status, if it comes through early.

As a non-official member of the committee, I had requested Mr Dadu not to disband the state level committee once its’ primary task of preparing an application for registering cashew feni got over. I had suggested that a database of all the geographically indicated traditional Goan products could be prepared. I have had no communication from the government regarding dissolution or reconstitution of the said committee but after studying the status of products registered under GIP act, 1999, I feel that government of Goa would commit a strategic mistake if it does not reactivate the committee and prepares its’ own policy and plan for identification and registration of all the Goan products which deserve GIP.

This is possible if we study the applications of other states, which have got GIP status for their local products. Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat are surging ahead in getting their major products registered. Among the products which got registration as GIP are -Pochampally Ikat (Andhra Pradesh); Chanderi saree (Guna, Madhya Pradesh); Kotpad Handloom fabric (Koraput, Orissa); Kota Doria (Kota, Rajasthan); Kancheepuram silk (Tamil Nadu); Bhavani Jamakkalam (Erode, Tamil Nadu); Mysore Agarbathi (Mysore, Karnataka); Aranmula Kannadi (Kerala); Salem fabric (Tamil Nadu); Solapur terry towel (Maharashtra); Mysore silk (Karnataka); Kullu shawl (Himachal Pradesh); Madurai Sungudi (Tamil Nadu); Kangra tea (Himachal Pradesh); Coorg Orange (Karnataka); Mysore betel leaf (Karnataka); Nanjanagud banana (Karnataka); Mysore sandalwood oil (Karnataka); Mysore sandal soap (Karnataka); Bidriware (Karnataka); Channapatna toys and dolls (Karnataka); Coimbatore wet grinder (Tamil Nadu); Mysore rosewood inlay (Karnataka); Kasuti embroidery (Karnataka); Mysore traditional paintings (Karnataka) and Orissa Ikat (Orissa).

Now what should be the case of more than 100 local varieties of Goan mangoes, Goa’s famous cashewnuts, Goa’s special local chillies, local strains of onions, breadfruit, cucumbers, arecanut, papads, pickles, Bicholim brass lamps, Goan furtniture, Goan terracotta, Cuncolim woodcraft, Canacona’s snake sticks, Goan breads, candles, fruit wines, vinegar?

The registration authority has granted GIP status to Allahabad’s guavas. Actually Guava (Psidium guajava) was a fruit tree introduced in India by the Portuguese from Brazil. Goa grows plentiful betel leaves, but Karnataka got the GIP status for their betel leaves. Kerala applied and got GIP for its’ ‘Pallakadan matta rice’, so why Goa should not apply and get GIP for at least 3000 years old unique local geographically indicated rice varieties such as damgo, babri, dodig, cochri, belo, patni, corgut, kendal, xitto, nermar, odusko, asgo, patni, mudgo, sotti, shirdi, valai, panyo, mutalgo, kusalgo, giresal?

Precious rice strains from Goa have been allegedly stolen by biopirates to provide the genetic material for preparing transgenic rice strains. In a modified hybrid form in future, the Goans would be sold the same rice strains. Saligao village in Bardez was known for bumper harvests of an aromatic and tasty rice – giresal which was considered as the king of all rice strains. Today, hybrid varieties have replaced the local rice cultivars. So if the traditional rice strains get GIP registration then it would a big boost for local farmers who could hope to establish a new global brand identity for organically produced local rice. Such varieties could attract a premium price in global markets if good marketing strategies are planned.

Goa’s rich diversity of mangoes provides a vast genetic pool. But without GIP protection anyone in world can import these Goan varieties and produce surplus quantities to be dumped in local markets at the cost of small time local growers. The art of producing the typical Goan sausages or salted mangoes is not found anywhere else in India. For that matter the ‘Goan fish curry’ or ‘humon’ is a perfectly geographically indicated product. But it would lose its’ status if China or Thailand begins exporting ‘ready to cook’ Goan fish curry preparations in future. If creatively used, the GIP Act can globally boost the brand identity and market value of Goan products (to be continued).