Tripura farmers get authorized to use GI tagging for Queen Pineapples
NERAMAC, the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India, has successfully completed the Geographical Indication (GI) certification process for 13 products from the North Eastern Region.
Among these products is the renowned Queen Pineapple of Tripura.
Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath inaugurated a special program aimed at authorizing 300 farmers to utilize the GI tagging provided by NERAMAC for their certified produce. Additionally, a GI Awareness Seminar was organized at Pragna Bhawan on Friday, May 26.
During the program, Minister Nath highlighted the unprecedented efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enhance the quality of life and increase the income of farmers.
The GI certification initiative is an integral part of the Government of India's broader strategy to promote sustainable agriculture, safeguard farmers' rights, and boost agricultural exports.
Minister Nath emphasized that apart from the Queen Pineapple, there are numerous other crops and products in the region that have the potential to receive GI tagging. Expressing his satisfaction, Minister Nath stated, "The farming community in the state has warmly welcomed this initiative, which is expected to uplift their morale and instil confidence in traditional farming practices."
He urged officials to take proactive measures to implement similar initiatives in the future. Furthermore, he emphasized the government's commitment to the overall development of farmers, emphasizing Prime Minister Modi's vision of doubling farmers' income and building a self-reliant, or Atmanirbhar, Bharat.
Dr. Rajni Kant Dwivedi, an expert in the field of GI and recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award, commended the exceptional quality of the Queen Pineapple during the seminar.
He spoke about the importance of North Eastern Region (NER) specific Geographical Indication (GI) products and emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to promoting NER region-specific GI products.
Dr Dwivedi’s insights shed light on the importance of promoting and protecting NER region-specific GI products which not only protect the unique identity and quality of the products but also create employment opportunities for local communities.
Commodore Rajiv Ashok (Retd), the Managing Director of NERAMAC, highlighted that the GI tagging would not only provide recognition to the unique quality of Tripura's Queen Pineapples but also contribute to their increased popularity.
“The initiative will provide recognition to the unique qualities and reputation of the Tripura Queen Pineapple and protect it from misuse and imitation”, he said.
He also explained how the authorization process of farmers would enhance the competitiveness of the produce in domestic and international markets and create opportunities for increased income and livelihood.
The event was graced by the presence of Secretary of the Government of Tripura, Apurba Roy; Director of the Horticulture & Soil Conservation Department, Phani Bhushan Jamatia; Director of the Agriculture department, Saradindu Das; and General Manager (Tripura) of NABARD, Loken Das. More than 200 Queen Pineapple producers participated in the event, demonstrating their enthusiasm and support for the initiative.