Geographical Indication Tag: Coorg Arabica Coffee, four others get GI Tag

Why in news

• The Geographical Indications Registry on March 1, 2019 granted the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag to Coorg Arabica Coffee, Wayanad Robusta Coffee, Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee, Araku Valley Arabica Coffee and Baba budangiris Arabica Coffee.

Coorg Arabica Coffee

• The Coorg Arabica Coffee is grown exclusively in Kodagu district of Karnataka.
• The Coffee cultivation forms the backbone of economy of the district.
• The landscape of the district provides unique aroma and flavour notes to the coffee, when roasted.

Wayanad Robusta Coffee

• The Wayanad Robusta Coffee is characteristic of the Western Ghats and the plantation crop is grown in the cool climate of Wayanad, Kerala.
• The Coffee in Wayanad is grown as a pure crop as well as a mixed crop along with pepper.
• The Robusta coffee produced is more than 95 percent of the total coffee cultivation done in Wayanad.

Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee & Baba budangiris Arabica Coffee

• Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee and Baba budangiris Arabica Coffee are grown in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka.
• The production of only Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee in the year 2016‐17 was around 10426 MT.
• The Chikmagalur district is generally referred as the birthplace of coffee in the country.

Araku Valley Arabica Coffee

• Araku Valley Arabica Coffee is grown around the Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh and in the Koraput district of Odisha.
• This coffee has a citrus note of grape fruit and a mild jaggery-like sweetness.

About Geographical Indication (GI)

• A Geographical Indication (GI) tag is a name or sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation of that origin. It can be a town, a region, or a country.
• The use of a geographical indication acts as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, and enjoys a certain reputation due to its geographical origin.
• It is used for agricultural, natural and manufactured goods having a special quality and reputation.
• It plays a very important role to increase the realm of the market.
• It boosts exports as well tourism and more importantly, it indirectly leads to sustainable development.
• The owner of the GI tag has exclusive rights over the product.

National /the Hindu

Pic courtesy:Karnataka Industry News