Why in news? Ankola’s famous kari Ishadu Mango now boasts of a GI tag from the state

Highlights:

• ‘Ishad’, a native mango variety grown in Ankola taluk of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, commands good demand from within and outside the district during summer.
• According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), a Geographical Indication (GI) tag or territorial indication tag is a model of intellectual property and promote exports.
• This GI tag has been given in recognition of the taste and special quality of the already famous kari Ishadu mango grown in Ankola taluk.
• Villages of Karwar and of Kumta are growing Kari Ishadu mango fruit.
• In addition to this, various types of fruit products have been consolidated based on the fruit market and the department has received a complete report and GI recognition has been given.
• One of the disadvantages of the fruit is its short shelf-life after ripening and makes it difficult to transport the variety over long distances.

The British link for the product

• British started Oriental Canneries and Industries for value-addition to the Ishad mango in 1908.
• This GI tag has been given in recognition of the taste and special quality of the already famous kari Ishadu mango grown in Ankola taluk.

About Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999

• It is an act of the Parliament of India for protection of geographical indications in India.
• India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Act to comply with the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
• The GI tag ensures that only those registered as authorised users (or at least those residing inside the geographic territory) are allowed to use the popular product name
• Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged product in India.
• A GI is registered for an initial period of ten years, which may be renewed from time to time.
• There are more than 40 such recognized products in Karnataka

Economic growth

• Protection of Geographical Indications leads to overall economic prosperity of manufacturers and producers.
• Moreover, marketing and promotion of products with GI tags increases secondary economic activities in that particular region.
• The main purpose of registering a geographical indication is to get protection for specific products produced in a particular geographical region, which further encourages and motivates the sellers to expand their business globally.
• Moreover, it increases exports and helps the produce growers to earn better income.