GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION (GI) TAGS OF MAHARASHTRA

Maharashtra, a state situated in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau, is the second-most populous state and the third largest state by area in India. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea in the west, Karnataka and Goa in the south, Telangana in the southeast, Chhattisgarh in the east, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in the north, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu in the northwest. Maharashtra is home to four UNESCO World Heritage sites namely, Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta Caves and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly known as Victoria Terminus). It is also prominent for its software parks in many cities and is also the second largest exporter of software in India. Till date, Maharashtra has been prized with 33 Geographical Indication (GI) Tags, the latest being Alphonso, Sangli Turmeric, and Kolhapuri Chappal.

However, the applications for GIs for Banjara Handicrafts and Mirror Work (click here to access documents), Terracotta of Pen (click here to access documents), Silver Craft of Hupari (click here to access documents), Copperware of Pune (click here to access documents), Solapur Chutney (click here to access documents), and Kolhapuri Masala (click here to access documents) were rejected by the Geographical Indications Registry of Chennai.

Kolhapuri Chappal is a handicraft product, whose application for a GI Tag was filed by the Central Leather Research Institute (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) on 4^th May, 2009 and the product was certified on 11^th December, 2018. The Application Details of ‘Kolhapuri Chappal’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

‘Kolhapuri Chappal’ is an ethnic product made completely and exclusively from bag tanned leather. All parts of the chappal namely sole, uppers, and heel are made from bag tanned vegetable tanned leather using babulbark and myrobalan fruits. Kolhapuri Chappal is manufactured in Dharwad, Belgaum, Bagalkot and Bijapur Districts of Karnataka and in Sholapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Satara districts of Maharashtra. The degree of tannage of bag tanned leather in Kolhapuri Chappal is around 45% and the decorative woven pattern fixed over upper bands are from head skin or goat skin tanned by bag tanners in the same bag tanning pit. The stitching of outer sole, insole and upper and heel with leather thread taken from bag tanned leather for most of the Kolhapuri Chappals is made in almost all places, except Nippani, where pasting is presently followed.

Kolhapuri Chappal is a household production with centuries old traditional practices and is fully handmade. The processing and production of Kolhapuri Chappal is eco-friendly and is suitable for rugged use for farmers but also serves as fashion footwear with soft and spring action in wear for urbanites and elite. This product has a shape memory even when soaked in water and is resistant to abrasion and water absorption which makes it sturdy and durable.

Sangli Turmeric is an agricultural product, whose application for a GI Tag was filed by Shivrajya Halad Utpadak Shetkari Swayamsahayata Gat on 26^th August, 2014 and the product was certified on 7^th November, 2018. The Application Details of ‘Sangli Turmeric’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

Sangli Turmeric originated from the ‘Sangli’ district of Maharashtra, also known as “Saffron City” because of its turmeric identity, which is the largest and the most important trading centre for turmeric in Asia or perhaps in the world. Appropriate geological and weather conditions in Sangli are favourable enough to produce good quality turmeric in a natural way and on a large scale. Sangli turmeric has a distinctly earthy, slightly bitter, hot peppery flavor with a mustardy aroma and brings a deep indelible saffron color to food. It is specially valued for its rich and attractive saffron color due to which spice manufacturers demand it greatly. Sangli turmeric has more thick and fleshy rhizomes with less wrinkles and thin peel and has worldwide acceptance. Miraj, Tasgaon, Palus, Kadegaon, Walawa, Vita, Khanapur, and Chinchali are major producers of turmeric in Sangli because of its rich fertile soil and dry hot climate.

Mainly used as a spice and also as a dye, Sangli Turmeric is traded from Sangli to Bombay, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Delhi and is also exported to other countries such as Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Great Britain and America. The turmeric is stored in huge amounts in underground pits known as “Peve” which increases curcumin content and adds more uniqueness, value, aroma, and flavor to Sangli Turmeric. Sangli Turmeric is cultivated on medium black, light and fertile soil and is sown from April to July, i.e. before rainy season; also the cultivators at the time of preparing the land use organic fertilizers namely, cow dung, compost or Farmyard manure.

Turmeric has always been used in Indian rituals as a symbol of purity, prosperity, and fertility. Sangli Turmeric is a strong dyeing agent creating permanent stain on clothes. The clothes dyed in turmeric are considered pure. It can also be used for culinary purposes as its attractive saffron color adds aroma and flavor to food items. Used as a natural preservative, Sangli Turmeric also possesses medicinal properties like stomachic, carminative tonic, blood purifier, vermicide and antiseptic. The active constituent of turmeric is curcumin, which has a wide range of therapeutic effects and also protects the liver from a number of toxic compounds because of its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric is helpful in treating Respiratory and Urinary diseases and can also be used to treat cancer as per the opinion of Mysore Laboratory. Sangli Turmeric is also used in making cosmetics in Japan, United States, and Europe.

Alphonso is an agricultural product, whose application for a GI Tag was filed by Director of Research on 22^nd September, 2008 and the product was certified on 3^rd October, 2018. The Application Details of ‘Alphonso’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

Alphonso, also known as ‘King of Mangoes’, is a variety of mango grown in the region of some districts in Gujarat, Maharashtra, North Karnataka, and Goa. The color of the fruit is having attractive orange yellow with slight blush red towards the stalk end. The pulp is firm but melting, fibreless, texture is soft, flavor is pleasant and the taste is very sweet. Its skin is thick and green in color before ripening and after ripening, the skin changes to thin and orange yellow in color. It has an attractive blush towards basal end.

Botanical name being ‘Mangifera Indica 1’, Alphonso is the most delicious variety of mango, known for its excellent texture, taste, aroma, early bearing and keeping quality. This delicious, juicy and luscious mango with its wonderful color, wholesome fragrance and irresistible taste has long been one of the world’s most popular fruits and accounts for nearly 60% of the mango export trade from India. Lateritic and Medium Black soil is used for the growth and production of Alphonso mangoes. The size of the fruit is large and the shoulder of the fruit is prominent with round back of fruit without beak. It has good sugar acid blend and has a longer shelf life, i.e. its keeping quality is good for about 21 days. Lastly, Alphonso is best suitable for fruit processing activities, i.e. for making into pulp, powder, leather, and ‘khawa’.

GI Tags of Maharashtra are-

Handicraft Products:

1. Solapur Chaddar [here]
2. Solapur Terry Towel [here]
3. Puneri Pagadi [here]
4. Paithani Sarees and Fabrics [here]
5. Warli Painting [here]
6. Karvath Kati Sarees & Fabrics [here]
7. Kolhapuri Chappal [here]

Manufactured Products:

1. Nashik Valley Wine [here]

Agricultural Products:

1. Mahabaleshwar Strawberry [here]
2. Nashik Grapes [here]
3. Kolhapuri Jaggery [here]
4. Nagpur Orange [here]
5. Ajara Ghansal Rice [here]
6. Mangalwedha Jowar [here]
7. Sindhudurg & Ratnagiri Kokum [here]
8. Waghya Ghevada [here]
9. Navapur Tur Dal [here]
10. Vengurla Cashew [here]
11. Lasalgaon Onion [here]
12. Sangli Raisins [here]
13. Beed Custard Apple [here]
14. Jalna Sweet Orange [here]
15. Waigaon Turmeric [here]
16. Purandar Fig [here]
17. Jalgaon Bharit Brinjal [here]
18. Solapur Pomegranate [here]
19. Bhiwapur Chilli [here]
20. Ambemohar Rice [here]
21. Dahanu Gholvad Chikoo [here]
22. Jalgaon Banana [here]
23. Marathwada Kesar Mango [here]
24. Alphonso [here]
25. Sangli Turmeric [here]