From our correspondent
Itagar, May 22: Aruchal Wakro Orange has filly being registered under Geographical Indication (GI) Registration along with other eight products of North East.The other products from the region which got GI registration include, Assam Karbi Anglong Ginger, Assam Tezpur Litchi, Meghalaya Khasi Mandarin, Sikkim Large Cardamom, Mizoram Bird Eye Chilly, Manipur Kachai Lemon, Tripura Queen Pineapple and galand Tree Tomato, Aruchal Pradesh Horticulture Research and Development Mission (APHRDM) director Egam Basar said in a statement here today.
The registration of the orange from the State has given a brand me of the fruit which has been so far sold in different parts of the country and abroad without mentioning me of the state or place where it is produced, he said.“Aruchal Wakro Orange has been exported to Bangladesh and from there to other countries in other mes depriving the state of its intellectual property right. From now onwards, the fruit will be sold only in brand me of Aruchal Wakro Orange by any marketing agency using the official logo to create brand image,” Basar said. Any product related to Aruchal Wakro Orange, be it seed or seedlings, would be sold in the specified brand me only, he added.
A committee comprising representatives from orange grower’s organization, Aruchal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing & Processing Board (APHPM&PB) and North Eastern Regiol Agriculture Produce Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) would monitor the quality and frame terms and conditions for use of the brand me, Basar disclosed.
The GI Registry is responsible for the administration of law relating to Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, he added.
“It is important to protect the special local crops and paving way for better branding and marketing in both intertiol and domestic markets. It prevent uuthorized use of a Registered Geographical Indications by others which in turns boost the export of that product and promotes economic prosperity of the producers of goods produced in a geographical territory,” he pointed out.
The GI registration of Aruchal Wakro Orange could be possible due to constant efforts put in by NERAMAC with technical back-up from Research and Development (R&D) Wing of the state Horticulture Department. It is registered under GI Application No 375.Aruchal Wakro Orange has been identified special and standing out among different mandarin oranges such as gpur, Coorg, Khasi in terms of high TSS and low acid content, blending of which gives a special sweet-sour taste, high juice content and easy to peel, due to which it got GI registration, Basar said.
Similarly, there are many other local produces of the state which are special in its own way and need promotion and protection through GI Registration. “Khamti Rice, Monpa Maize are among many such produces of the state which has special taste and aroma. There are many tive important medicil plants such as Mishmi Teeta which needs proper scientific studies and protection before it is commercially exploited by other people,” he advocated.
The R&D wing of the horticulture department is making an endeavor to study and document important bio-resource of the state so that it can be registered under Geographical Indication, he added.